The  Story  of 

The  American  Legion 

j 

i' 

By 

George  Seay  Wheat 

The  Birth  of  the  Legion 

The  first  of  a  series  to  be  issued  after  each 
Annual  National  Convention 


Illustrated 


G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 

New  York  and  London 

3be    fmfcfeerbocfcet    press 

1919 


COPYRIGHT  1919 

BY 
GEORGE  SEAY  WHEAT 


Ube  Ifcnfcfterbocfeer  press,  Hew  |?orft 


FOREWORD 

THE  American  Legion  was  conceived  by  prac- 
tically the  entire  personnel  of  the  army,  navy,  and 
marine  corps!  Every  man  in  the  military  and 
naval  establishment  did  not  think  of  it  in  just  such 
terms,  but  most  of  them  knew  that  there  would  be 
a  veterans'  organization  of  some  tremendous  im- 
port, and  here  it  is! 

"A  veterans'  organization  of  some  kind  will  be 
formed."  I  heard  that  identical  remark  not  once, 
but  a  dozen  times  on  board  a  transport  en  route 
to  France  as  early  as  September,  1918.  In 
fact,  one  night  in  the  war  zone  a  group  of  officers 
were  huddled  around  a  small  piano  trying  to  make 
the  best  of  a  lightless  evening,  and,  having  sung 
every  song  from  Keep  the  Home  Fires  Burning  to 
You're  in  the  Army  Now,  paused,  longingly  toyed 
cigarettes  which  were  taboo  by  ship's  order,  and 
then  began  to  spin  yarns. 

"Reminds  me  of  a  G.  A.  R.  reunion,"  one  second 
lieutenant  from  Maine  remarked,  after  a  particu- 
larly daring  training  camp  adventure  had  been 
recounted. 


A    \    A  O  *j     , 


iv  Foreword 

"Just  think  of  the  lying  well  all  do  at  our  re- 
unions when  this  war  is  over, "  chirped  a  youngster 
from  South  Carolina.  And  then  spoke  a  tall 
major  from  Illinois: 

"The  organization  which  you  young  fellows 
will  join  won't  be  any  liefest — at  least  not  for  forty 
years.  Don't  forget  there's  some  saving  to  do 
for  the  United  States  when  this  European  mess  is 
over.  Us  fellows  won't  ever  get  out  of  Uncle 
Sam's  service." 

How  well  the  Illinois  major  hit  the  nail  on  the 
head !  The  incident  on  the  transport  seems  worth 
recording  not  only  because  of  the  major  but  be- 
cause it  shows  the  general  anticipation  of  what  is 
now  the  American  Legion.  Perhaps  it  was  this 
general  anticipation  which  is  responsible  for  the 
cordial  reception  that  the  Legion  has  had  ever 
since  its  very  inception  in  Paris. 

No  one  can  lay  claim  to  originating  the  idea  of 
a  veterans'  association,  because  it  was  a  consensus 
among  the  men  of  the  armed  forces  of  our  nation. 
A  certain  group  of  men  can  take  unto  themselves 
the  credit  for  starting  it,  for  getting  the  ball  rolling, 
aiding  its  momentum,  and,  what  is  more  important, 
vfor  guiding  it  in  the  right  direction,  but  no  one  man 
yr  group  of  men  "thought  up"  the  American  Le- 
ion.  It  was  the  result  of  what  might  be  called 
|the  "spontaneous  opinion"  of  the  army,  navy,  and 


Foreword  v 

• 

marine  corps  caused  by  a  fusing  together  in  a 
common  bond  of  the  various  elements  of  the  ser-  • 
vice,  just  as  spontaneous  combustion  is  brought  I 
about   by   the  joint   action    of   certain    chemical  ) 
elements. 

Spontaneous  opinion,  like  spontaneous  combus- 
tion, is  dangerous  when  improperly  handled  and 
beneficient  when  rightly  directed.  That's  what 
the  organizers  of  the  Legion  have  been  and  will  be 
mostly  concerned  with.  They  have  their  elements 
— these  men  of  the  army,  navy,  and  marine  corps, 
and  the  organizers  mean  to  direct  this  united  and 
organized  patriotism  into  such  channels  as  will  make 
for  the  welfare  of  the  United  States  of  America 
primarily,  and,  secondarily,  for  the  welfare  of  the 
service  men  themselves. 

Just  how  much  attention  this  Legion  with  four 
million  potential  members  intends  to  pay  to  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  just  how  much  to 
themselves  per  se,  is  basicly  important  and  per- 
tinent as  a  question,  nowadays  when  the  Legion  is 
being  tried  and  is  on  the  witness  stand  before  pub- 
lic opinion.  The  answer  is  most  clearly  indicated 
by  the  preamble  to  the  proposed  constitution 
printed  elsewhere. 

This  preamble  stresses  Americanism,  individual 
obligation  to  the  community,  state,  and  nation; 
battling  with  autocracy  both  of  the  classes  and 


vi  Foreword 

masses;  right  the  master  of  might;  peace  and  good 
will  on  earth;  justice,  freedom,  and  democracy!  Only 
in  the  last  two  words  of  the  preamble  is  mention 
made  of  the  welfare  of  the  men  themselves.  These 
two  words  are  mutual  helpfulness.  But  be  sure 
and  understand  the  connection  in  which  they  are 
used. 

" .  .  .we  associate  ourselves  together  .  .  .  to 
consecrate  and  sanctify  our  comradeship  by  our  devo- 
tion to  mutual  helpfulness." 

This  is  the  way  the  last  purpose  of  the  preamble 
reads. 

The  men  who  framed  this  constitution  certainly 
did  not  believe  that  comradeship  would  be  con- 
secrated and  sanctified  by  anything  of  a  selfish 
character  under  the  guise  of  mutual  helpfulness. 
Certainly  not  the  comradeship  that  made  bearable 
the  zero  hour  in  the  trenches  or  the  watch  in  a 
submarine  infested  sea. 

To  go  a  little  in  advance  of  the  story  and  speak 
practically,  mutual  helpfulness  has  meant  so  far 
voting  down  a  pay  grab  from  Congress;  a  get- 
together  spirit  to  foster  the  growth  of  the  Legion ; 
a,  purpose  to  aid  in  the  work  of  getting  jobs  for 
returning  soldiers,  and  the  establishment  of  legal 
departments  throughout  the  country  to  help  ser- 
vice men  get  back  pay  and  allotments.  Mutual 
helpfulness  in  this  case  would  seem  to  make  Uncle 


Foreword  vii 

Sam  as  much  a  partner  in  it  as  are  the  Legion 
members.  Because,  for  every  job  the  Legion  gets 
an  unemployed  man,  and  for  every  dollar  Legion 
lawyers  help  collect  for  back  pay  and  allotments,  a 
better  citizen  is  made.  And  better  citizenship  is 
what  the  Legion  most  wants. 

So  here  seems  to  be  the  place  to  make  the  pat- 
ent observation  that  mutual  helpfulness  will  in 
future  years  mean  just  what  it  means  to-day — doing 
something  for  the  United  States  of  America. 

At  the  present  time  the  Legion  might  be  com- 
pared to  a  two-headed  American  eagle — one  looking 
towards  France  and  the  A.  E.  P.,  and  the  other 
homewards  to  the  service  men  here.  The  two  are  a 
single  body  borne  on  the  same  wings  and  nourished 
of  the  same  strength.  They  are  the  same  in  ideal 
and  purpose  but  directed  for  the  moment  by  two 
different  committees  working  together.  One  com- 
mittee is  the  result  of  the  caucus  at  Paris  in  March, 
when  the  A.  E.  P.  started  the  organization,  while 
the  other  was  born  this  month  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
for  the  men  here. 

GEORGE  S.  WHEAT. 

NEW  YORK   May,  1919. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I. — LATTER  WAR  DAYS  IN  FRANCE     .         .         i 

II. — THE  PARIS  CAUCUS,  MARCH  15-17, 1919       12 

III. — PRE-CAUCUS  DAYS  IN  AMERICA    .         .31 

IV. — THE  ADVANCE  COMMITTEE  .         .       46 

V. — THE  ST.  Louis  CAUCUS,  MAY  8,  9,  and 

10.  55 

VI. — THE  LEGION  AND  THE  BOLSHEVIKI        .       81 

VII. — THE  LEGION  WON'T  MEET  AT  CHICAGO        93 

VIII. — THE  SILVER  LINING     .         .         .         .108 

IX. — OBJECTORS    —  CONSCIENTIOUS       AND 

OTHERWISE     .         .         .         .         .122 

X. — THE  REEMPLOYMENT  PROBLEM  .  .     148 

XI. — THE  DISREGARD  OF  SELF      .  .  .157 

XII. — THE  CLOSING  HOURS  .         .  .  .164 

XIII. — WHY  THE  AMERICAN  LEGION?  .  .180 

THE  AMERICAN  LEGION  .  .187 

CONSTITUTION     OF     THE     AMERICAN 

LEGION  .         .         .         .         .193 


Contents 

RESOLUTIONS      .... 
LEGION  FACTS    .... 
WHAT  THE  PUBLIC  PRESS  THINKS. 
COMMITTEES 
ROSTER 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACING 

PAGE 


THE  ST.  Louis  CAUCUS  .  Frontispiece 

HENRY  D.  LINDSLEY      .         .         .         .         .18 

Copyright  by  Clinedinst,  Washington,  D.  C. 

THE  PARIS  CAUCUS        .         .         .         .  19 

THEODORE  ROOSEVELT,  JR.  .         .         .       60 

GROUP  AT  ST.  Louis  CAUCUS  .         .         .61 

BENNETT  C.  CLARK        .....       94 

Copyright  by  Clinedinst,  Washington,  D.  C. 

ERIC  FISHER  WOOD        .         .         .         .         .       95 

GASPAR  BACON      .         .         .         .         .         .118 

STATE  CHAIRMEN  HERBERT,  x  MATHEWSON,  AND 

WlCKERSHAM        .  .  .  .  .  .119 

1  '  JACKJ>  SULLIVAN  .         .         .         .         .140 

CHAPLAIN  J.  W.  INZER 141 

FRED  HUMPHREY  .....     160 

P.  C.  CALHOUN      ......     161 

1  Photo  by  Gray,  Worcester,  Mass. 


XI 


The  Story  of  the  American 
Legion 


CHAPTER  I 

LATTER  WAR  DAYS   IN   FRANCE 

I  believe  that  the  army  of  to-day,  when  it  goes  back  to  citizen 
thinking  and  citizen  acting,  will  be  capable  of  so  contributing  to  the 
commonwealth  of  the  United  States  as  to  change  the  character 
of  the  whole  country  and  lift  it  up  to  a  higher  plane. 

BISHOP  BRENT,  Senior  Chaplain,  A.  E.  F. 

Paris,  March,  1919. 

ON  a  midsummer  morning  in  1918,  ambulance 
after  ambulance  unloaded  its  cargo  of  wounded 
humanity  at  a  base  hospital  in  Paris.  The 
wounded  were  being  conveyed  rapidly  from  the 
front  and  the  entire  hospital  was  astir  with  nurses, 
surgeons,  and  orderlies.  A  major,  surgeon,  almost 
staggered  out  of  an  operating  room  where  he  had 
been  on  duty  for  twenty-two  hours  and  started  for 
his  quarters  when  a  colonel  arrived  on  an  inspec- 
tion trip. 

" Pretty  busy,"  remarked  the  colonel  as  he 
acknowledged  the  major's  salute. 


2  /.  fHw:1Stor^:ofc  the  American  Legion 

*  «••  ••  •*•*    •••*••   •  *  * 

1 ' Busy?  Busy!"  replied  the  major.  "Good 
Lord,  the  only  people  about  here  that  aren't  busy 
are  the  dead  ones.  Even  the  wounded  are  busy 
planning  to  hobble  around  at  conventions  when 
the  Big  Show  is  over.  Already  they  are  talking 
about  how  they  intend  to  take  a  hand  in  things 
after  the  war  when  they  get  home. " 

Over  across  the  street  a  sergeant,  limping  slightly, 
stopped  under  a  shade  tree  and  leaned  against  it 
to  rest.  He  was  almost  well  of  his  wound  and 
eagerly  awaited  the  word  that  would  send  him  to 
join  his  regiment,  the  Twenty-sixth  United  States 
Infantry.  As  he  paused  under  the  tree  another 
soldier  with  a  mending  wound  in  the  knee  and 
just  able  to  be  about  stopped  to  speak  to  him. 
The  sergeant's  hand  rose  in  quick  salute  for  the 
newcomer  was  an  officer. 

"Expect  to  get  back  soon,  sergeant?"  said  the 
officer. 

' '  Yes  sir, ' '  he  replied.  ' '  Anxious  to  go  back  and 
get  the  whole  job  over,  sir. ' ' 

"So  am  I,"  responded  the  officer.  "But  whaf 
will  we  all  do  when  the  Germans  really  are  licked?" 

1 '  Go  home  and  start  a  veterans'  association  for  the 
good  of  the  country,  sir, "  the  sergeant  answered. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Theodore  Roosevelt,  then 
major,  was  the  officer,  and  Sergeant  William 


Latter  War  Days  in  France  3 

Patterson,  later  killed  in  action,  was  the  enlisted 
man,  and  the  institution  was  Base  Hospital  No.  2. 

Colonel  Roosevelt,  who  was  in  the  hospital  con- 
valescing from  a  wound  in  his  knee  caused  by  a 
machine  gun  bullet,  told  me  the  story  and  said  it 
was  the  first  time  that  he  had  heard  the  subject  of 
a  veterans'  association  mentioned,  although  he  had 
thought  of  it  frequently  himself  as  an  organization 
with  boundless  possibilities  for  good.  He  found 
later  that  it  was  being  very  generally  discussed  by 
men  in  Base  Hospital  No.  2,  particularly  those  who 
were  so  badly  wounded  that  they  could  not  be 
sent  to  the  front  again  and  who  knew  they  must 
further  serve  their  country  along  peaceful  lines 
at  home. 

This  was  during  war  time,  remember! 

Then  came  the  armistice ! 

When  our  victorious  armies  were  wending  their 
way  towards  the  Rhine,  when  men  of  the  navy  and 
the  marine  corps  realized  that  peace  had  come  and 
that  home  was  again  within  reach,  this  thought  of 
a  veterans'  band,  which  had  slumbered  far  back  in 
the  subconscious  thoughts  of  all  of  them,  burst  in- 
to objectivity.  An  association  of  some  sort  was 
widely  discussed  not  only  by  the  men  but  by  the 
officers  as  well.  But  how  could  even  the  start  of 
it  be  begun?  Those  who  considered  the  project 
most  seriously  were  confronted  with  a  difficulty 


4         The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

which  seemed  at  first  to  be  almost  insurmountable: 
that  was  the  difficulty  of  assembling  at  one  time 
and  in  one  place  a  gathering  which  might  at  least 
approximately  represent  the  whole  army,  navy, 
marine  corps,  or  even  the  A.  E.  F. 

This  difficulty  tended  to  narrow  what  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  wish  of  everyone  when  he  first 
thought  of  the  matter,  that  is  the  hope  that  it 
would  be  another  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
another  United  Confederate  Veterans,  but  greater 
than  either  because  representative  of  a  United 
Country.  Talk  started  then  about  all  sorts  of 
imagined  and  fancied  veteran  organizations.  Some 
advocated  an  officers'  association.  This  was  be- 
lieved to  be  possible  because  officers  had  more 
freedom  and  more  financial  ability  to  attend  a 
convention.  Others  thought  the  enlisted  men 
should  perfect  organizations  by  regiments  first,  then 
divisions,  and  finally  form  one  great  united  body. 

The  present  leaders  in  the  movement  have  since 
said  that  they  realized  that  all  of  these  schemes 
must  come  to  naught  because  no  organization 
except  one  on  the  broadest  possible  lines  could  be 
effective.  They  believed  that  all  officers  and  men 
of  the  three  branches  of  the  service  and  all  enlisted 
women,  whether  they  served  at  home  or  abroad, 
should  be  eligible  and  urged  to  join  one  thoroughly 
democratic  and  comprehensive  organization.  They 


Latter  War  Days  In  France  5 

knew  that  any  organization  leaving  out  one  or  more 
elements  composing  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States  would  be  forced  to  compete  con- 
stantly with  the  organization  or  association  so 
discarded.  In  short,  they  knew  that  in  union 
there  is  strength.  And  they  believed,  and  still 
believe,  that  the  problems  of  peace  after  a  catas- 
trophe such  as  was  never  before  witnessed  in  his- 
tory are  so  grave  that  they  can  be  met  with  safety 
only  by  a  national  bulwark  composed  of  the  men 
who  won  the  war,  so  closely  knit,  so  tightly  welded 
together  in  a  common  organization  for  the  common 
good  of  all  that  no  power  of  external  or  internal 
evil  or  aggression,  no  matter  how  allied  or  aug- 
mented, could  hope  even  so  much  as  to  threaten 
our  national  existence,  ambitions,  aspirations,  and 
pursuit  of  happiness,  much  less  aim  to  destroy  them. 
Don't  forget  that  the  leaders  of  the  movement 
realized  all  this,  and  also  remember  that  they  in- 
clude among  their  number  the  enlisted  man  of  the 
A.  E.  F.  and  home  army  and  the  sailor  in  a  shore 
station  and  on  board  a  destroyer.  The  realiza- 
tion may  not  have  been  in  so  many  words,  but 
each  knew  he  wanted  to  "make  the  world  safe  for 
democracy " — he  had  fought  to  do  that  and  had 
thought  out  carefully  what  it  meant,  that  is,  that 
it  didn't  mean  anything  selfish — and  each  knew 
enough  of  the  principle  of  union  and  strength  to 


6        The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

embrace  the  idea  when  "  organize "  first  began  to 
be  mentioned. 

But  how  to  do  it,  that  was  the  problem. 

Then  kind  Fate  in  the  shape  of  G.  H.  Q.  came 
to  the  rescue  with  what  proved  to  be  the  solution. 

G.  H.  Q.  didn't  mean  to  find  the  solution.  ^There 
had  been  a  deal  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  way 
certain  things  were  going  in  the  A.  E.  F.  and  on 
February  15,  1919,  twenty  National  Guard  and 
Reserve  officers  serving  in  the  A.  E.  F.,  represent- 
ing the  S.  O.  S.,  ten  infantry  divisions,  and  several 
other  organizations,  were  ordered  to  report  in 
Paris.  The  purpose  of  this  gathering  was  to  have 
these  officers  confer  with  certain  others  of  the 
Regular  Army,  including  the  heads  of  train  supply 
and  Intelligence  Sections  of  the  General  Staff  of 
G.  H.  Q.,  in  regard  to  the  betterment  of  conditions 
and  development  of  contentment  in  the  army  in 
FranceJ 

Included  in  this  number  were  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Theodore  Roosevelt,  Jr.,  of  the  First  Division, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Franklin  D'Olier  of  the  S.  O.  S., 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Eric  Fisher  Wood  of  the 
88th  Division.  JA11  of  these  officers  have  since  told 
me  that  when  they  left  their  divisions  they  were 
distinctively  permeated  with  the  desire  to  form 
a  veterans'  organization  of  some  comprehensive 
kind.  When  they  got  to  Paris  they  immediately 


Latter  War  Days  in  France  7 

went  into  conference  with  the  other  officers  on  the 
questions  involved  in  their  official  trip,  details  of 
which  do  not  concern  this  story. 

'What  is  important  is  the  fact  that  Colonel 
Roosevelt,  Colonel  D'Olier,  and  Colonel  Wood  each 
discovered  that  all  of  the  officers  in  this  representa- 
tive gathering  shared  with  the,  thousands  of  other 
soldiers  of  the  American  forces  the  hope  and  desire 
that  the  officers  and  men  who  were  about  to  return 
to  civilian  life,)  after  serving  in  the  great  war, 
whether  at  home  or  with  the  combat  units  or  in 
the  S.  O.  S., | might  sooner  or  later  be  united  into  one 
permanent  national  organization,  similar  in  cer- 
tain respects  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
or  the  United  Confederate  Veteransfand  composed 
of  all  parties,  all  creeds,  and  all  ranks,  who  wished 
to  perpetuate  American  ideals  and  the  relationship 
formed  while  in  the  military  and  national  service. 

^When  these  officers  realized  what  each  was 
thinking  they  promptly  set  about  with  the  "let's 
go"  spirit  of  the  A.  E.  F.  to  avail  themselVes  of  a 
God-given  opportunity.  A  dinner  was  spread  in 
the  Allied  Officers'  Club,  Rue  Faubourg  St.  Honore, 
on  the  night  of  February  i6th  and  covers  were  laid  '$. 
for  the  following : 

Lt.  Col.  Francis  R.  Appleton,  Jr.,  2d  Army. 

Lt.  Col.  G.  Edward  Buxton,  826.  Div. 

Lt.  Col.  Bennett  C.  Clark,  ex  35th  Div.,  now  with  88th  Dir. 


8        The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Lt.  Col.  Ralph  D.  Cole,  37th  Div. 

Lt.  Col.  D.  J.  Davis,  ex  28th  Div.,  now  att.  G.  H.  Q. 

Lt.  Col.  Franklin  D'Olier,  Q.  M.,  S.  O.  S. 

Col.  W.  J.  Donovan,  Rainbow  Div. 

Lt.  Col.  David  M.  Goodrich,  G.  H.  Q. 

Maj.  T.  E.  Gowenlock,  ex  ist  Div.,  now  with  ist  A.  C. 

Col.  Thorndike  Howe,  A.  P.  O.  Dept. 

Lt.  Col.  John  Price  Jackson,  Peace  Commission 

Maj.  DeLancey  Kountze,  G.  H.  Q. 

Lt.  Col.  R.  W.  Llewellen,  28th  Div. 

Capt.  Ogden  Mills,  ex  6th  Div.,  now  att.  G.-2,  S.  O.  S. 

Lt.  Col.  Benjamin  Moore,  82d  Div. 

Lt.  Col.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  Jr.,  ist  Div. 

Lt.  Col.  R.  C.  Stebbins,  3d  A.  C. 

Maj.  R.  C.  Stewart,  ist  Div. 

Lt.  Col.  George  A.  White,  ex  4ist  Div.,    now  att.  G.  H.  Q. 

Lt.  Col.  Eric  Fisher  Wood,  ex  83d  Div.,    now  with  88th  Div. 

At  that  dinner  the  American  Legion  was  born. 

Why  not  let  this  gathering — the  most  repre- 
sentative in  the  history  of  the  A.  E.  P. — consider 
itself  as  a  temporary  committee  to  launch  the 
movement?  Why  not?  everyone  asked  himself 
and  his  neighbor  over  the  coffee.  All  felt  that  their 
presence  in  Paris  presented  an  unusual  opportu- 
nity to  initiate  the  first  steps  of  such  a  movement, 
an  opportunity  unlikely  to  be  repeated  and  one 
they  ought  not  to  let  slip.  f  Another  meeting  was 
suggested  to  consider  the  matter.  \  It  was  held. 
The  result  was  that  there  were  several  more  con- 
ferences and  every  such  gathering  was  more  en- 
thusiastic than  its  predecessor.  ^At  each  of  these 
informal  conferences,  some  one  was  careful  to 
emphasize  that  these  self-appointed  committee- 


Latter  War  Days  in  France  9 

men  were  by  no  means  representative  enough  of 
the  army  or  navy,  nor  sufficiently  numerous  to 
warrant  their  actually  effecting  an  organization  of 
any  character  whatsoever,  f  Yet  it  was  believed 
that,  nevertheless,  the  gathering  was  representative 
enough  to  act  as  a  temporary  committee  so  func- 
tioning as  to  get  together  from  the  whole  army  and 
navy  two  caucuses — one  to  represent  the  troops 
in  France,  and  the  other  those  who  had  remained 
in  America  and  who,  through  no  fault  of  their 
own,  had  been  denied  the  privilege  of  making  his- 
tory on  a  European  battlefield.^  The  temporary 
committee  realized  that  due  care  must  be  exercised 
in  getting  these  caucuses  started.  Every  unit  in 
the  A.  E.  F.  should  be  represented,  if  possible,  at  the 
Paris  caucus,  while  to  the  one  in  the  States,  pref- 
erably to  be  held  at  St.  Louis  because  of  its  central 
location,  delegates  must  come  from  every  Con- 
gressional District  in  the  Union. 

Thereby  would  be  avoided,  it  was  urged,  the 
mistake  of  giving  the  impression  that  it  was  a 
small  gathering  of  men,  unrepresentative  or  serv- 
ing some  special  and  selfish  end. 

This  was  unanimously  agreed  upon  and  the  tem- 
porary committee  elected  Lt.  Col.  Roosevelt, 
temporary  chairman,  Lt.  Col.  Bennett  C.  Clark, 
temporary  vice-chairman,  Lt.  Col.  Wood,  tempor- 
ary secretary. 


io      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

A  sub-committee  was  appointed  to  receive  from 
all  the  members  of  the  temporary  committee 
the  names  of  such  individuals  of  combat  divisions 
and  each  section  of  the  S.  O.  S.  of  the  A.  E.  F.,  who 
were  eligible  and  suitable  to  be  delegates  to  a  cau- 
cus scheduled  for  March  I5th-i6th-i7th  in  Paris. 
A  similar  sub-committee  was  appointed  to  ascer- 
tain the  names  of  men  of  the  home  forces  in  ordei 
that  they  might  be  urged  to  attend  a  caucus  in 
America  on  or  about  May  Sth-gth-ioth. 

The  work  of  the  sub-committee  of  the  A.  E.  F. 
was  much  more  difficult  than  would  appear  at  first 
glance.  It  was  easy  enough  to  get  the  names  oi 
leaders  in  the  various  outfits,  both  of  officers  and 
men,  but  to  get  them  to  Paris!  That  was  the  job. 
Of  course  it  was  the  ardent  desire  of  everyone  that 
the  new  organization  should  eventually  become  a 
society  principally  devoted  to  the  interests  oi 
those  who  served  as  enlisted  men,  for  they  bore 
the  brunt  of  the  fighting  and  the  work  and  were 
fundamentally  responsible  for  the  splendid  victory. 

But  once  the  names  of  such  men  were  in  the 
committee's  hands  the  real  work  had  not  begun, 
There  were  mechanical  difficulties  in  securing  foi 
enlisted  men  in  active  duty  leave  to  attend  a  cau- 
cus in  Paris.  In  the  first  place  the  enlisted  men 
themselves,  as  indicated  by  several  who  were  con- 
sulted, were  very  diffident  about  accepting  an 


Latter  War  Days  in  France  1 1 

invitation  to  attend  a  caucus  where  they  would  be 
required  to  sit  beside  and  debate  with  and  against 
generals  and  field  officers  to  whom  they  owed  mili- 
tary obedience.  Then  again,  there  was  the  ex- 
pense of  travel  in  France,  as  well  as  the  high  cost 
of  living  in  Paris.  At  the  outset  this  raised  the 
expense  of  a  trip  to  the  French  capital  to  a  sum 
amounting  to  many  months  of  an  enlisted  man's 
pay.  Furthermore,  the  sub-committee  was  face 
to  face  with  the  A.  E.  F.  regulations  providing 
that  except  in  the  most  unusual  circumstances 
an  enlisted  man  would  not  be  granted  leave  ex- 
cept in  company  with  a  trainload  of  his  fellows, 
and  to  a  certain  specified  leave  area. 

But  as  has  been  said  before  the  conclusion  had 
been  reached  that  if  the  organization  was  really 
to  become  preeminently  an  enlisted  man's  out- 
fit, it  would  be  absolutely  necessary  to  overcome 
these  difficulties  and  by  hook  or  crook  to  obtain 
the  attendance  of  as  many  privates  and  non- 
commissioned officers  as  possible  who  were  leaders. 
So,  scarcely  had  seventeen  of  the  twenty  officers 
returned  to  their  commands  before  they  received 
an  urgent  appeal  to  help  out  the  sub-committee  of 
three.  They  were  told  to  get  enlisted  delegates 
to  Paris,  never  mind  how,  the  method  being  of 
small  importance  provided  the  men  were  there. 


CHAPTER  II 


THE    PARIS  CAUCUS,    MARCH    15-17, 


THE  first  delegates  began  to  arrive  for  the  caucus 
on  March  I4th.  After-the-war  good  fellowship 
between  those  who  had  been  commissioned  officers 
on  the  one  hand,  and  enlisted  men  on  the  other, 
was  foreshadowed  in  a  most  interesting  and  strik- 
ing manner  when  they  began  to  come  into  the 
hotels.  A  dozen  or  more  officer  delegates  brought 
with  them  as  orderlies  an  equal  number  of  dele- 
gates from  the  ranks.  Thus  enlisted  personnel, 
by  devious  means,  were  ordered  to  Paris  under  one 
guise  or  another.  One  sergeant  came  under  orders 
which  stated  that  he  was  the  bearer  of  important 
documents.  He  carried  a  despatch  case  wadded 
with  waste  paper.  Another  non-com.,  from  a 
distant  S.  O.  S.  sector,  had  orders  to  report  to 
Paris  and  obtain  a  supply  of  rat  poison.  Several 
wagoners,  farriers,  and  buck  privates  acquired 
diseases  of  so  peculiar  a  character  that  only  Pari- 
sian physicians  could  treat  them.  As  one  of  them 
said,  he  hadn't  had  so  much  fun  since  his  office-boy 

12 


The  Paris  Caucus*  March  15-17,  1919    13 

days  when  a  grandmother  made  a  convenient 
demise  every  time  Mathewson  pitched.  The 
expense  of  the  trip  was  gathered  in  diverse  ways. 
In  some  divisions  the  officer  delegates  took  up 
collections  to  defray  the  expense  of  enlisted 
delegates. 

In  numerous  instances,  enlisted  men  refused 
such  assistance  and  took  up  their  own  collections. 
One  amusing  story  was  told  by  an  enlisted  man. 
He  said  that  the  "  buddies "  in  his  regiment  had 
deliberately  lost  money  to  him  in  gambling  games 
when  he  refused  to  be  a  delegate  because  he 
couldn't  pay  his  own  expenses.  So  by  various 
means  nearly  two  hundred  enlisted  delegates  were 
in  Paris  by  late  afternoon  on  March  I4th.  It  must 
not  be  imagined  from  the  foregoing  that  all  the 
officers  arrived  on  special  trains  and  were  them- 
selves in  the  lap  of  luxury.  One  second  lieutenant 
who  attended  has  since  confided  that  he  sold  his 
safety  razor  and  two  five-pound  boxes  of  fudge  sent 
from  home  in  order  to  get  carfare  to  Paris. 

Practically  all  of  the  self-appointed,  temporary 
committee,  with  the  exception  of  Colonel  Roosevelt, 
was  present.  He  was  Chairman  of  the  American 
Committee  and  had  left  France  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  that  part  of  the  army  and  navy 
which  did  not  get  abroad  or  which  had  returned 
home. 


14      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

The  Paris  caucus  convened  at  the  American 
Club  near  the  Place  de  la  Concorde  on  the  after- 
noon of  March  I5th,  Colonel  Wood  presiding. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Bennett  C.  Clark  of  the  88th 
Division  was  selected  Chairman  of  the  caucus  and 
Lt.  Col.  T.  W.  Miller  of  Pennsylvania,  and  serving 
in  the  79th  Division,  was  elected  Vice-Chairman. 
When  Colonel  Wood  called  the  meeting  to  order 
nearly  one  thousand  delegates  answered  the  roll- 
call  and  these  were  of  all  ranks  from  private  to 
brigadier  general;  and  every  combat  division  and 
all  sections  of  the  S.  O.  S.,  were  represented. 
Colonel  Wood  briefly  reviewed  the  self-appoint- 
ment of  the  temporary  committee  during  the 
previous  month  and  outlined  the  purposes  of  the 
caucus. 

A  few  minutes  after  Colonel  Clark  had  taken  the 
chair  an  officer  of  high  rank,  a  colonel  to  be  exact, 
moved  that  while  in  the  convention  hall,  the  after- 
war  status  as  fellow  civilians  be  forecast  and  that 
the  stations  of  rank  would  there  cease  to  exist. 
It  was  agreed  that  they  would  be  resumed  with  full 
force  and  full  discipline  as  soon  as  the  delegates 
crossed  the  threshold  of  the  convention  hall  and 
regained  the  street. 

It  was  the  ability  of  the  American  officer  to  do 
this — to  be  friendly  to  a  certain  extent  with  his 
men  and  yet  at  the  same  time  to  keep  them  per- 


The  Paris  Caucus,  March  15-17,  1919     15 

fectly  disciplined — which  amazed  the  officers  of 
the  armies  of  our  Allies.  No  more  striking  ex- 
ample of  this  was  ever  given  than  within  the  con- 
fines of  the  American  Club  on  that  isth  day  of 
March.  The  Colonel's  motion  was  unanimously 
carried  and  the  work  of  the  organization  began. 
Then  generals  forgot  their  rank,  corporals  engaged 
in  hot  debates  with  colonels,  sergeants  argued  with 
majors  and  everybody  talked  with  everybody  else 
in  a  most  boylike  spirit  of  fraternity  and  equality. 

Captain  Ogden  Mills  of  G.  H.  Q.  moved  that 
four  caucus  committees  be  appointed  to  draft 
suggestions  and  submit  them  to  the  caucus,  one 
committee  to  design  machinery  for  convening  the 
winter  convention;  one  committee  to  submit  sug- 
gestions as  to  a  permanent  organization;  one 
committee  on  tentative  constitution;  and  one 
committee  on  name.  Each  committee  con- 
sisted of  fifteen  members,  and  was  appointed  by 
the  Chairman. 

Here  are  the  committees,  appointed  by  the  chair : 

COMMITTEE  ON  CONVENTION 

Brig.  Gen.  Sherburne,  26th  Div.,  Chairman 

Wagoner  Shaw,  88th  Div.,  Vice-Chairman 

Capt.  Ogden  Mills,  G.  H.  Q. 

Colonel  Graham,  S.  O.  S. 

Prvt.  C.  W.  Key,  ist  Army  Troops 

Captain  Mahon,  77th  Div. 

Sgt.  Obrecht,  ist  Army 

Capt.  Kipling,  Troops  serving  with  French 


16       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


Sgt.  J.  C.  Hendler, 
Lt.  Col.  Appleton, 
Major  Gordon, 
Field  Clerk  Sowers, 
Major  Hungerford, 
Cpl.  J.  H.  Anderson, 
Lt.  Col.  Wren, 


Paris  Command 

2d  Army  Hq. 

36th  Div. 

Press  Section  G.  H.  Q. 

3rd  Army  Hq. 

Paris  Command 

36th  Division 


COMMITTEE  OF  PERMANENT  ORGANIZATION 


Colonel  Donovan, 

Lt.  Col.  Graham, 

Capt.  Boyd, 

Sgt.  Tip  Bliss, 

Lt.  Col.  Fitzpatrick, 

Sgt.  Rollo  S.  Thorpe, 

Lt.  Col.  Crosby, 

Pvt.  W.  L.  Thompson, 

Major  Graff, 

Major  Barry  Wright, 

Sgt.  Rommel, 

Sgt.  V.  V.  Trout, 

Capt.  Carlstrom, 

Major  R.  C.  Patterson, 

Lt.  Col.  Smith, 


42d  Div.,  Chairman 
88th  Div.,  Vice-Chairman 
29th  Division 
Stars  and  Stripes 
35th  Division 
88th  Div. 
S.  O.  S. 

nth  R.  R.  Engineers 
28th  Division 
79th  Division 
Paris  Command 
Paris  Command 
S.  O.  S. 

Peace  Commission 
Division 


COMMITTEE  ON  NAME 


Lt.  Col.  Robbins, 

Lt.  Col.  Goodrich, 

Sgt.  Dolan, 

Lt.  Col.  Stebbins, 

Sgt.  H.  E.  Fleming, 

Major  E.  S.  Haile, 

Colonel  Gibbs, 

Sgt.  McElow, 

Major  Horace  Rumsey, 

Sgt.  C.  E.  Sommers, 

Major  D.  D.  Drain, 

Sgt.  G.  F.  Fleming, 

Lt.  Markoe, 

Major  Dwight, 

Sgt.  Barnard, 


2d  Army  Hq.  Chairman 
G.  H.  Q.,  Vice-Chairman 

89th  Division 
3rd  Army  Corps 
35th  Division 
77th  Div. 
S.  O.  S. 

Paris  Command 
35th  Division 
Paris  Command 
3d  Army 
Paris  Command 
2d  Army 
S.  O.  S. 
Paris  Command 


The  Paris  Caucus,  March  15-17,  1919     17 

The  names  of  these  committees  are  given  because 
they  are  more  than  just  names.  They  show  the 
first  bubbles  of  the  melting  pot  into  which  all  rank 
and  titles  in  the  American  Army  have  been  cast  and 
out  of  which  comes  the  one  word  "  Comrade. " 

There  were  three  outstanding  features  of  the 
Paris  caucus  which  were  evident  by  midnight  of 
March  I5th.  The  first  was  the  desire  to  get  to- 
gether and  form  an  organization  quickly  and  a 
willingness  to  forego  personal  prejudice  and  opin- 
ion to  arrive  at  that  end.  The  second  was  the 
determination  to  make  the  man  who  didn't  get 
across  as  much  a  component  part  of  the  legion  as 
his  more  fortunate  brother-in-arms ;  while  the  third 
was  the  avowed  intention  to  take  no  action  at  the 
caucus  which  could  be  deferred  until  the  winter 
convention  in  America,  when  the  home  brother 
and  the  navy  could  be  jointly  represented  and  a 
permanent  organization  could  be  effected.  I  say 
that  these  things  were  evident  by  midnight  of 
March  I5th  for  those  who  have  attended  many 
conventions  know  that  from  the  casual  word  heard 
here  and  there,  the  whispered  conference  of  a  few 
leaders,  and  from  the  general  tenor  of  discussions 
carried  on  by  delegates  gathered  together  in  little 
groups,  the  spirit  of  the  body  politic  is  most  per- 
ceptible. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  afternoon  session 


1 8       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

on  that  day,  members  of  the  committees  closeted 
themselves  and  started  work  on  their  special  func- 
tions, while  those  who  were  to  pass  on  the  com- 
mittee's actions,  the  "hoi  polloi"  were  here  and 
there  in  groups,  in  the  "Y"  huts  or  in  boulevard 
cafes  discussing  the  real  meaning  of  the  gathering. 
A  colonel  in  the  Officers'  Club  said  there  must  be 
no  disagreement  on  this  or  that  question ;  a  private 
in  the  Bal  Tabarin  told  his  buddies  the  same  thing. 

And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  on  the  following  day 
in  the  Cirque  de  Paris,  where  the  final  meetings 
were  held,  the  delegates  formally  gathered,  sensed 
the  gossip  of  the  clubs  and  boulevards,  and  acted 
accordingly.  One  of  the  things  done  was  to  en- 
dorse the  action  of  the  temporary  committee  in 
appointing  itself  and  in  calling  the  caucus.  An- 
other was  to  adopt  a  tentative  constitution.  It  is 
in  reality  little  more  than  a  preamble,  but  it  gave 
a  working  basis,  expressing  enough  and  yet  not  too 
much. 

Newspaper  men  have  told  me  that  the  Sermon 
on  the  Mount  is  the  finest  bit  of  reporting  in  the 
history  of  writing  because  it  tells  a  long  story 
succinctly.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Buxton  and  his 
committee  on  constitutions  are  certainly  entitled 
to  credit  of  the  same  type — for  they  tell  a  great 
deal  in  a  few  lines. 

Here's  the  tentative  constitution  under  which 


w 


rt 


I  • 

§  " 

O 

CO 


The  Paris  Caucus,  March  15-17,  1919    19 

the  Legion  worked — it  was  read  by  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Bolles : 


"We,  the  members  of  the  Military  and  Naval 
Service  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  the 
great  war,  desiring  to  perpetuate  the  principles 
of  Justice,  Freedom,  and  Democracy  for  which  we 
have  fought,  to  inculcate  the  duty  and  obligation 
of  the  citizen  to  the  State;  to  preserve  the  history 
and  incidents  of  our  participation  in  the  war; 
and  to  cement  the  ties  of  comradeship  formed 
in  service,  do  propose  to  found  and  establish  an 
association  for  the  furtherance  of  the  foregoing 
purposes: 

" Those  eligible  to  membership  shall  be:  All 
officers  and  enlisted  personnel  in  the  Military  and 
Naval  Services  of  the  United  States  of  America 
at  any  time  during  the  period  from  April  6,  1917, 
to  November  n,  1918,  inclusive;  excepting  how- 
ever, persons  leaving  the  service  without  an  honor- 
able discharge  or  persons  who  having  been  called 
into  the  service  refused,  failed,  or  attempted  to 
evade  the  full  performance  of  such  service. 

"The  society  shall  consist  of  a  national  organiza- 
tion with  subsidiary  branches ;  one  for  each  State, 
territory,  and  foreign  possession  of  the  United 
States  as  well  as  one  in  each  foreign  country 
where  members  of  the  national  society  may  be 


2O       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

resident  and  who  desire  to  associate  themselves 
together. 

"The  officers  of  the  society  shall  be  a  Presi- 
dent, one  or  more  Vice-Presidents,  a  Secretary,  a 
Treasurer  and  a  Board  of  Directors,  which  shall 
consist  of  the  President,  the  Vice-Presidents,  to- 
gether with  the  chief  executive  of  each  subsidiary 
branch. 

"The  subsidiary  branches  shall  organize  and 
govern  themselves  in  such  manner  as  the  mem- 
bership of  such  subsidiary  organizations  shall  de- 
termine upon  except  that  the  requirements  and 
purposes  of  the  permanent  national  constitution 
as  adopted  shall  be  complied  with. 

"The  representation  shall  be  on  the  basis  of  the 
actual  enrollment  in  the  subsidiary  branches  at 
all  conventions  after  the  adoption  of  a  permanent 
constitution. 

"Members  present  at  the  meeting  of  this  com- 
mittee as  follows : 

"Lt.  Col.  G.  Edward  Buxton,  Jr.,  Chairman 

"Lt.  Col.  T.  W.  Miller,  Secretary 

' '  Major  Redmond  C.  Stewart 

"Col.  E.  A.  Gibbs 

"Lt.  Col.  W.  H.  Curtiss 

"Major  J.  Hall 

"Col.  C.  L.  Ristine." 


The  Paris  Caucus,  March  15-17,  1919    21 

There  were  many,  many  men  in  the  A.  E.  F. 
respected  and  beloved,  but  none  perhaps  more 
than  he  who  seconded  a  motion  made  by  a  private 
from  S.  O.  S.  base  section,  No.  4,  that  the  con- 
stitution be  adopted.  The  seconder  asked  to 
speak  on  the  question.  When  he  began  he  got  the 
rapt  attention  which  Bishop  Brent,  Senior  Chap- 
lain of  the  A.  E.  P.,  always  won  whether  he  talked 
to  buck  privates  knee  deep  in  trench  water  or  the 
King  in  Buckingham  Palace. 

"It  was  a  great  soldier  who  said  that  the  army 
has  not  merely  a  body  but  a  soul  and  a  conscience 
as  well,"  he  began.  "I  believe  the  conscience  of 
the  army  is  speaking  in  this  committee's  report. 
I  believe  the  army's  soul  is  speaking  in  it.  I  was 
present  on  Saturday,  at  the  beginning  of  this  cau- 
cus and  I  will  tell  you  frankly  that  I  was  fearful 
at  that  moment  lest  you  should  create  a  great 
mechanism  without  adequate  purposes.  My  fears 
have  been  wholly  allayed  and  I  see  in  the  report 
©f  your  committee  the  ideals  not  only  of  the  army 
but  of  the  nation  adequately  expressed  and  I  wish 
to  tell  you  gentlemen  that  so  far  as  I  have  any 
ability  to  promote  this  great  movement  I  give  you 
my  most  hearty  support.  I  believe  that  the  army 
of  to-day,  when  it  goes  back  to  citizen  thinking  and 
citizen  acting,  will  be  capable  of  contributing  to  the 
commonwealth  of  the  United  States  so  as  to  change 


22       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

the  character  of  the  whole  country  and  lift  it  up 
to  a  higher  plane  of  political,  industrial,  and  re- 
ligious life.  I  happen  to  be  at  this  moment  lead- 
ing in  a  movement  in  the  army  to  promote  the 
various  ends  that  are  so  well  expressed  in  the  com- 
mittee's report,  in  what  is  known  as  the  'Comrades 
in  Service.'  There  are  two  ways  of  creating  an 
organization ;  one  is  by  forming  the  principles  and 
leaving  the  body  to  take  its  own  shape;  the  other 
by  creating  a  machinery  without  stating  your  end 
and  reach  that  end  through  the  machinery.  Ac- 
cording to  our  democratic  conception  we  have 
adopted  the  former  or  idealistic  method.  We  are 
prepared  to  contribute  to  this  army  wide  organiza- 
tion which  is  now  brought  into  existence,  all  that 
we  have  to  contribute.  We  are  entirely  loyal  to 
your  principles  and  methods  of  approach  and  we 
are  quite  willing  to  forego  any  attempt  to  make  an 
organization  which  might  become  a  rival  to  you. 
Between  now  and  the  time  of  demobilization  there 
is  a  great  opportunity  for  us  to  promote  the  prin- 
ciples which  actuate  you.  We  have  already  a 
temporary  and  provisional  organization  for  the 
promotion  of  such  principles ;  the  creation  of  better 
citizenship  along  the  lines  so  well  expressed.  We 
would  like  everyone  who  can  to  give  support  to 
that  which  we  are  endeavoring  to  do,  while  we  ask 
all  who  come  in  with  us  to  be  prepared  to  throw  in 


The  Paris  Caucus,  March  15-17,  1919    23 

their  lot  with  this  organization  when  it  is  perfected 
in  the  United  States/' 

"The  creation  of  better  citizenship,*'  Bishop 
Brent  says.  He  wants  every  one  who  can,  to  give 
support  to  that;  to  "what  we  are  trying  to  do." 

If  everyone  could  see  just  that  in  the  Legion, 
if  everyone  will  work  for  just  that — better  citizen- 
ship— the  Legion's  aim  will  be  realized  in  its  deep- 
est and  truest  sense.  Bishop  Brent  has  a  knack  of 
hitting  the  nail  on  the  head  with  such  force  that 
the  sparks  fly  and  by  their  light  comes  insight- 
ask  anyone  from  out  Manila-way  if  it  isn't  so. 
The  short  address  was  greeted  with  thunderous 
applause.  The  newly  born  Legion  knew  it  had  a 
champion  and  a  worker  in  the  Bishop. 

Col.  Wm.  J.  Donovan  of  the  i6sth  Infantry, 
Forty-second  Division  headed  the  committee  of 
fifteen  which  gave  the  final  report  on  resolutions 
and  organization.  This  report  is  reproduced  here 
in  full  because  it  presaged  the  action  of  the  Ameri- 
can caucus  and  brought  about  the  form  of  the  Le- 
gion Government  until  November. 

"RESOLVED:  That  an  Executive  Committee 
shall  be  selected,  two  (2)  from  each  unit  (as  recog- 
nized in  this  caucus)  and  eight  (8)  to  be  selected  by 
the  Executive  Commitee;  the  two  members,  one 
officer  and  one  enlisted  man,  to  be  selected  from 
each  unit  to  be  named  by  the  respective  delega- 


24       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

tions  attending  this  caucus.  Each  unit  shall 
present  the  names  of  committeemen  who  shall  as 
far  as  possible  represent,  in  point  of  residence,  each 
State,  Territory  and  possession  of  the  United 
States  and  the  District  of  Columbia. 

"This  Executive  Committee  shall  have  general 
power  to  represent  the  units  now  in  foreign  service, 
to  determine  its  own  quorum,  to  confer  with  com- 
mittees from  a  similar  caucus  in  the  United  States, 
to  secure  one  general  convention  of  persons  entitled 
to  membership  under  the  tentative  constitution,  to 
elect  its  officers  and  appoint  such  sub-committees 
and  give  them  such  powers  as  may  be  proper  and 
necessary. 

"This  Executive  Committee  acting  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  committee  of  the  United  States  is 
specifically  charged  with  the  duty  of  fixing  a  date 
and  place  for  holding  a  national  convention,  issu- 
ing a  call  for  the  holding  of  county  and  State  con- 
ventions and  providing  a  unit  of  representation  and 
method  of  selection  of  delegates  to  the  national 
convention,  by  the  State  conventions. 

"The  powers  of  this  committee  shall  expire  upon 
the  organization  of  the  permanent  national  con- 
vention. 

' '  The  committee  is  further  charged  with  the  duty 
of  making  known  the  existence  and  purpose  of  this 
organization,  of  stimulating  interest  in  it,  and  of 
inviting  the  support  of  all  those  entitled  to  mem- 
bership. 

"No  policy  except  in  furtherance  of  the  creation 
of  a  permanent  organization  having  in  mind  the 


The  Paris  Caucus,  March  15-17,  1919    25 

desirability  of  unity  of  action  in  organizing  all  the 
American  forces  shall  be  adopted  or  carried  out  by 
the  committees. 

"A  meeting  for  the  temporary  and  preliminary 
organization  of  the  Executive  Committee  shall  be 
held  at  this  place  immediately  upon  the  adjourn- 
ment of  this  caucus. 

"The  Executive  Committee  may  receive  and 
add  to  its  number  two  representatives  from  any 
division  or  equivalent  unit  not  represented  at  this 


caucus/ 


As  the  result  of  the  passage  of  this  report  it  is 
interesting  to  note  the  personnel  of  the  Executive 
Committee  which  the  delegates  selected  and  which 
is  controlling  the  American  Legion  of  the  A.  E.  F., 
observing  especially  the  large  number  of  enlisted 
men;  large  in  view  of  the  difficulties  experienced 
in  getting  such  men  to  Paris. 

ist  Div.,  Capt.  Arthur  S.  Hyde 

2d  Div.,  Lt.  Col.  Harold  C.  Snyder 

26th  Div.,  Sgt.  Wheaton  Freeman 

26th  Div.,  Lt.  Col.  Wm.  J.  Keville 

2;th  Div.,  Lt.  Col.  Edward  E.  Gauche,  N.  Y. 

27th  Div.,  Reg.  Sgt.  Mjr.  Samuel  A.  Ritchie,  N.  Y. 

28th  Div.,  Brig.  Gen.  Wm.  G.  Brice,  Jr.,  Penn. 

28th  Div.,  Sgt.  Ted  Myers,  Penn. 

29th  Div.,  Lt.  Col.  Orison  M.  Kurd,  N.  J. 

29th  Div.,  Color  Sgt.  Andreas  Z.  Holley,  Maryland 

3 ist  Div.,  Captain  Leon  Schwarz,  Ala. 

33d  Div.,  Col.  Milton  A.  Foreman,  111. 

35th  Div.,  Lt.  Col.  B.  C.  Clark,  Mo. 

35th  Div.,  Sgt.  Fred  Heney,  Kans. 


26      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


36th  Div., 

36th  Div., 

4 ist  Div., 

42d  Div., 

42d  Div., 

77th  Div., 

77th  Div., 

79th  Div., 

79th  Div., 

8oth  Div., 

8ist  Div., 

8 ist  Div., 

82d  Div., 

82d  Div., 

83d  Div., 

83d  Div., 

86th  Div., 

88th  Div., 

88th  Div., 

89th  Div., 

9 ist  Div., 

9ist  Div., 

S.  O.  S.  Hq., 

Adv.  Sec.,  S.  O.  S. 

Base  Sec.  No.  i,  S.  O. 

Base  Sec.  No.  3,  S.  O. 

BaseSec.  No.  5,S.O. 

Base  Sec.  No.  6,  S.  O. 

Troops  with  French, 

Troops  with  French, 

Paris  Command, 

Paris  Command, 

G.  H.  Q., 

ist  Army  Corps, 

ist  Army  Corps, 

2d  Army  Hq., 


Col.  Chas.  W.  Nimon,  Texas 

Sgt.  Mjr.  L.  H.  Evridge,  Texas 

Col.  Frank  White,  N.  Dak. 

Col.  Henry  J.  Reilly,  111. 

Sgt.  Rowe,  Iowa 

Major  Duncan  Harris 

Sgt.  Lawrence  Miller,  N.  Y. 

Lt.  Col.  Stuart  S.  Janney,  M<L 

Sgt.  Benjamin  R.  Kauffman,  Pa. 

Capt.  Arthur  F.  Shaw,  Mich. 

Major  Theodore  G.  Tilghman,  N.  C. 

Reg.  Sgt.  Mjr.  Wm.  S.  Beam,  N.  C. 

Capt.  Frank  S.  Williams,  Fla. 

Sgt.  Alvin  T.  York,  Term. 

Lt.  Col.  Wayman  C.  Lawrence,  Jr.,  W.  Va. 

Cpl.  Thoyer 

Major  John  H.  Smale,  111. 

Lt.  Col.  George  C.  Parsons,  Minn. 

Wagoner  Dale  J.  Shaw,  Iowa. 

Lt.  Col.  Frank  Wilbur  Smith,  Pa. 

Lt.  Col.  John  Guy  Strohm,  Oregon 

Sgt.  Mjr.  Hercovitz,  Calif. 

Col.  James  H.  Graham,  Conn. 

Capt.  David  A.  Uaurier,  Wash. 
S.,  Pvt.  W.  L.  Thompson,  N.  Y. 
S.,  Lt.  Col.  Carle  Abrams,  Oregon 
S.,  Major  Orlin  Hudson,  Kans. 
S.,  Major  Arthur  S.  D wight,  N.  Y. 

Sgt.  L.  K.  Flynt,  Mass. 

Capt.  A.  W.  Kipling,  Paris,  France 

Pvt.  Harold  W.  Ross,  Calif. 

Lt.  Col.  John  Price  Jackson 

Bishop  Charles  H.  Brent,  N.  Y. 

Lt.  Col.  Lemuel  L.  Bolles,  Wash. 

Sgt.  Mjr.  Race 

Lt.  Col.  Burke  H.  Sinclair,  Colo. 


The  tentative  name  of  this  organization  was  not 
adopted  without  a  great  deal  of  discussion.  All 
sorts  of  titles  were  suggested  to  the  committee 


The  Paris  Caucus,  March  15-17,  1919    27 

which    considered    the    matter.      Some  of   them 
were: 


Comrades  of  the  Great  War         Great  War  Legion 
Veterans  of  the  Great  War  The  Legion 

Liberty  League  The  American  Comrades  of  the 

Army  of  the  Great  War  Great  War 

Legion  of  the  Great  War  The  Great  Legion 

The  American  Legion 


The  last  was  tentatively  decided  upon  as  the  best 
name  although  there  was  considerable  discussion 
on  it.  This  discussion  waxed  particularly  warm 
between  a  colonel  and  a  corporal  and  it  came  to 
an  end  only  when  some  hungry  enlisted  delegate 
braved  the  officer's  rising  ire  to  move  an  adjourn- 
ment for  lunch.  The  motion  carried  immediately 
and,  true  to  the  understanding  made  at  the  outset 
in  regard  to  rank,  the  corporal  clicked  his  heels  to- 
gether, stood  at  attention  and  saluted  the  colonel, 
when  the  latter  passed  him  on  the  sidewalk  exactly 
five  minutes  after  he  had  been  telling  the  colonel 
precisely  what  he  thought  of  him  and  his  opinions 
—at  least  as  far  as  the  name  of  the  Veteran's  Or- 
ganization was  concerned.  I  might  add  that  this 
colonel  was  well  under  thirty-five  years  of  age  and 
that  the  corporal  was  only  twenty-one. 

And  this  brings  to  mind  another  striking  feature 
of  this  most  unusual  gathering,  which  was  the 
comparative  youth  of  its  membership.  For  in- 


28      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

stance  the  two  individuals  who  have  taken  from 
the  beginning  the  leading  parts  in  the  movement, 
Bennett  Clark,  son  ©f  Champ  Clark  and  a  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  of  infantry,  and  Theodore  Roosevelt, 
Jr.,  son  of  the  ex-president  and  also  a  Colonel  of 
infantry.  They  are  respectively  twenty-nine  anc 
thirty-one  years  of  age,  and  one  of  the  most  bril- 
liant speeches  in  the  caucus  was  made  by  a  captair 
of  twenty-six. 

It  must  not  be  understood  from  this  rather 
recital  of  what  took  place  at  the  Paris  Caucus,  this 
record  of  minutes  and  resolutions,  that  it  was 
entirely  sedate  and  dignified  gathering.  On  the 
contrary,  Young  America  was  there  and  quite  ofter 
the  impression  which  one  gathered  was  that 
dozen  or  so  Big  Brothers  had  been  turned  loose  at 
once.  A  great  many  wild  speeches  were  made  anc 
all  sorts  of  ticklish  questions  were  brought  up. 
Chairman  Clark  broke  two  gavels  and  three  times 
overturned  his  table.  Everyone  there  was  young. 
Peace  was  young.  Few  knew  exactly,  like  Bishop 
Brent,  just  what  was  wanted.  The  whole  proj- 
ect was  new.  Dozens  of  delegates  wanted  to 
speak;  it  was  their  first  chance  since  April  6,  1917. 
In  fact  one  man  made  two  very  violent  speeches 
on  the  same  subject,  one  in  direct  opposition  to  the 
other.  He  realized  he  was  making  a  heated  argu- 
ment for  both  sides  and  finally  sat  down  laughing 


The  Paris  Caucus,  March  15-17,  1919    29 

about  it.  Who  was  he?  Who  was  the  colonel 
who  got  wrought  up  over  the  proposed  name? 
Who  were  the  lieutenants,  and  who  were  any  of 
these  privates,  captains,  and  sergeants? 

"I  don't  know. "     Nobody  knows. 

Doubtless  they  have  themselves  forgotten  what 
they  said.  No  verbatim  records  are  available 
now.  In  fact  I  am  told  that  no  record  could  have 
been  kept,  for  many  times  two  or  three  were  speak- 
ing at  once  and  the  chairman  was  breaking  the 
third  commandment  with  his  gavel.  But  this 
much  everyone  wanted,  "A  Veteran's  Organiza- 
tion. "  This  much  everyone  swore  he  would  have, 
one  that  was  neither  political  nor  partisan,  one 
that  would  perpetuate  righteousness,  insure  "hon- 
or, faith,  and  a  sure  intent/'  and  despite  whatever 
bickering  there  might  have  been,  despite  whatever 
differences  of  opinion  arose,  when,  with  a  tremen- 
dous "Aye,"  the  motion  to  adjourn  was  carried, 
this  Paris  Caucus  had  accomplished  a  body  politic 
and  a  soul  of  the  type  which  Bishop  Brent  so 
clearly  described. 

To  resume  the  story  of  actual  accomplishment. 
The  Executive  Committee  was  given  general  power 
to  represent  the  units  in  France,  to  confer  with 
committees  or  representatives  of  the  American 
Caucus  as  soon  as  these  should  be  appointed,  and, 
in  conjunction  with  the  latter,  to  issue  a  call  for 


30      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

the  holding  of  county  and  State  conventions  and 
providing  a  unit  of  representation  and  method  of 
selection  of  delegates  to  one  general  convention 
for  the  autumn  of  1919,  preferably  November 
nth,  or  Armistice  Day. 

The  Executive  Committee  met  immediately 
after  the  adjournment  of  the  caucus  and  elected 
Colonel  Foreman  of  the  Thirty-third  Division, 
Chairman;  Lt.  Colonel  George  A.  White,  Forty- 
first  Division,  Secretary  and  Major  R.  C.  Patterson, 
Paris  Command,  Assistant  Secretary.  Lt.  Col. 
White,  Col.  Wood,  Major  R.  C.  Patterson,  and 
Lt.  L.  R.  Farrell  were  elected  permanent  members 
at  large  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Then  from  this  executive  committee  a  com- 
mittee of  fifteen  was  chosen  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
pediting the  work  which  had  been  assigned  to  the 
larger  committee,  it  being  easier  to  assemble  fifteen 
men  than  the  larger  number.  The  committee  of 
fifteen  elected  Col.  Bennett  Clark  as  its  chairman. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  committee  of  fifteen 
a  hope  was  expressed  that  the  caucus  in  America 
would  take  similar  action  in  the  appointment 
of  an  executive  committee,  which  would  in  turn 
delegate  its  authority  to  a  smaller  committee  for 
working  purposes.  Just  exactly  how  this  worked 
out,  is  later  described. 


CHAPTER  III 

PRE-CAUCUS    DAYS   IN   AMERICA 

ONCE  home  again  it  didn't  take  a  Solomon  to 
tell  Colonel  Roosevelt  that  he  had  a  man's  size 
job  on  his  hands  in  starting  the  American  Legion 
on  its  way  in  the  United  States.  Dispatches  more 
or  less  accurate  had  told  the  service  men  on  this 
side  something  about  the  Legion  activities  of  the 
A.  E.  F.  in  France.  As  late  as  mid-April,  however, 
a  great  many  men  in  this  country  knew  nothing 
whatever  about  the  American  Legion,  while  the 
majority  of  those  who  did  were  not  at  all  sure  it  was 
to  be  The  Veteran's  Organization.  What  I  have 
said  previously  about  the  ''spontaneous  opinion7' 
of  the  men  in  France  on  the  question  of  a  veteran's 
organization  proved  to  be  equally  true  among  ser- 
vice men  on  this  side  of  the  water.  Consequently, 
it  wasn't  long  after  the  armistice  before  several 
veteran's  organizations  and  associations  were  in 
the  process  of  formation.  As  it  was  a  pertinent 
news  topic,  the  newspapers  gave  a  great  deal  of 
prominence  in  their  columns  to  several  of  these 

31 


32       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

organizations.  They  were  of  various  types  and 
characters.  One  was  for  enlisted  men  only. 
Another  was  for  officers  only.  There  was  an  or- 
ganization for  officers  who  had  fought  in  France, 
Italy,  or  Russia  and  there  was  one  or  more  organiza- 
tions which  had  the  breadth  of  vision  to  see  that 
men  of  all  ranks  and  all  branches  of  the  military 
and  naval  establishments  must  be  eligible. 

Such  was  the  situation  confronting  Colonel 
Roosevelt  when  he  arrived  home  to  help  start  the 
American  Legion  in  its  own  country.  The  fact  of 
his  arrival  and  his  announced  intention  to  aid  in 
the  organization  of  the  Legion  was  duly  heralded 
in  the  press  of  the  United  States. 

At  first  the  army  and  navy  men  were  inclined  to 
say,  "Here  is  another  of  those  mushroom  Veter- 
an's Associations  bobbing  up. "  In  fact  I  heard  one 
officer  make  just  that  remark,  but  another  was 
quick  to  correct  him  by  saying,  ' '  Its  bound  to  be  a 
straight  and  honest  organization  or  a  Roosevelt 
wouldn't  stand  for  it. "  That  was  the  crux  of  the 
initial  success  of  the  Legion,  because  just  that  was 
true.  Every  man  who  wore  the  uniform  had 
known  Theodore  Roosevelt,  Sr.,  and  although  he 
may  not  have  agreed  with  him  in  all  of  his  political 
opinions  still  he  knew  that  neither  he  nor  any 
member  of  his  family  would  back  any  organization 
or  proposition  that  was  not  morally  sterling. 


Pre-Caucus  Days  in  America  33 

There  were  those  who  did  not  like  the  American 
Legion.  There  were  those  who  were  willing  to  let 
a  past  political  prejudice  deter  them  from  aiding 
in  the  most  important  movement  in  American 
life  to-day.  There  were  those  who  stated  that 
Theodore  Roosevelt,  Jr.,  was  prominent  in  organ- 
izing the  American  Legion  for  his  own  political 
advancement.  The  answer  to  that  misapprehen- 
sion will  develop  later  and  will  prove  one  of  the 
most  striking  incidents  in  this  story. 

Colonel  Roosevelt  has  a  peculiarly  happy  faculty 
of  keeping  those  who  work  with  him  cheerful  and 
optimistic.  He  gathered  around  him,  to  launch 
the  movement  in  America,  a  set  of  cheerful,  com- 
petent optimists,  prominent  among  whom  were 
Colonel  Richard  Derby,  Colonel  Franklin  D'Olier, 
who  figured  in  the  Paris  Caucus,  Major  Cornelius 
W.  Wickersham,  Assistant  Chief  of  Staff  of  the 
Twenty-seventh  Division,  Captain  Henry  Fair- 
field  Osborne,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gran ville  Clark, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Leslie  Kincaide,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Eric  Fisher  Wood  and  Captain  H.  B. 
Beers.  One  of  Colonel  Roosevelt's  first  duties  as 
temporary  chairman  of  the  Legion  over  here  was 
to  create  the  nation  wide  organization.  He  needed 
committeetnen  in  every  State  to  work  the  State 
organization  up,  and  to  start  the  machinery  for 
the  election  of  delegates  to  the  St.  Louis  Caucus, 


34      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

for  it  had  been  decided  that  the  representation  in 
St.  Louis  must  be  by  duly  elected  representatives 
from  congressional  districts  in  so  far  as  that  was 
possible.  Each  such  district  was  awarded  double 
its  congressional  representation,  in  addition  to  the 
delegates  at  large.  It  was  no  easy  task  to  pick 
these  committeemen.  The  decision  of  the  Paris 
gathering  that  the  organization  must  be  non-par- 
tisan and  non-political  had  to  be  adhered  to  in  its 
fullest  sense.  There  were  soldiers  and  sailors 
enough  in  all  the  States  who  would  have  been  will- 
ing to  have  started  the  organization  in  their  respec- 
tive localities,  but  how  not  to  get  politicians  of  the 
lower  order,  men  who  would  gladly  prostitute  the 
Legion,  its  aims  and  ambitions  to  their  own  selfish 
advantage — that  was  the  problem  which  faced  the 
temporary  committee  in  America. 

lAbout  three  weeks  before  the  St.  Louis  Caucus 
the  following  names  were  chosen  from  the  various 
States  as  committeemen : 

OFFICERS 

Lt.  Col.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  Jr.,  New  York,  Chairman 
Lt.  Col.  Bennett  Clark,  Missouri,  Vice-Chairman 
Lt.  Col.  Eric  Fisher  Wood,  Pennsylvania,  Secretary. 

ALABAMA 

Lt.  H.  M.  Badham,  Jr.,  Birmingham 

Pvt.  W.  M.  Cosby,  Jr.,  Birmingham 

Sgt.  Edwin  Robertson,  Birmingham 


Pre-Caucus  Days  in  America 


35 


ARIZONA 

Pvt.  Ned  Bernard, 

Lt.  Col.  J.  C.  Greenway, 


Tucson 
Bisbee 


ARKANSAS 

Pvt.  P.  R.  Graybill,  Democ.  Pub.  Co.    Little  Rock 

Major  J.  J.  Harrison,  Little  Rock 

Pvt.  Walter  J.  Wilkins,  Pine  Bluff 

CALIFORNIA 

Sgt.  L.  P.  Adams,  San  Francisco 

Corp.  Chas.  A.  Beck,  San  Francisco 

Lt.  Col.  Benjamin  H.  Dibblee,  San  Francisco 

Chaplain  Joseph  D.  McQuade,  San  Francisco 

Major  Stewart  Edward  White,  Santa  Barbara 


COLORADO 

Lt.  G.  W.  Cutting, 
Sgt.  C.  C.  Neil, 
Major  H.  A.  Saidy, 
Sgt.  Phil.  G.  Thompson, 


Florence 
Greeley 

Colorado  Springs 
Denver 


CONNECTICUT 

Maj.  Morgan  G.  Bulkeley, 
Lt.  Col.  Jas.  L.  Howard, 


Hartford 
Hartford 


DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 

Pvt.  L.  Clarkson  Hines, 
Col.  E.  Lester  Jones, 


Washington 
Washington 


DELAWARE 

Major  Thomas  W.  Miller, 
Capt.  John  P.  Nields, 


Wilmington 
Wilmington 


FLORIDA 

Brig.  Gen.  A.  H.  Blanding, 


Bartow 


36      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

GEORGIA 

Ool.  Alexander  R.  Lawton,  Jr.,  Savannah 

Capt.  Landon  Thomas,  Augusta 

IDAHO 

Major  C.  M.  Booth,  Pocatello 

Pvt.  John  Green,  Twin  Falls 

Major  Hawley,  Jr.,  Boise" 

Pvt.  D.  H.  Holt,  Caldwell 

ILLINOIS 

Chf.  Petty  Officer  B.  J.  Goldberg,  Chicago 

Maj.  Owsley  Brown,  Springfield 

Rear  Admiral  Frederick  B.  Bassett,  Great  Lakes 

ist  Cl.  Pvt.  Edw.  J.  Czuj,  Chicago 

Maj.  Thomas  Gowenlock,  Chicago 

ist  Cl.  Pvt.  Hy.  Hickman  Harris,  Champaign 

ist  Cl.  Pvt.  Geo.  Kendall  Hooton,  Danville 

Ensign  Allen  M.  Loeb,  Chicago 

Capt.  Clark  Nixon,  East  St.  Louis 

Maj.  John  Callan  O'Laughlin,  Chicago 

Capt.  Joseph  Medill  Patterson,  Chicago 

ist  Cl.  Pvt.  C.  J.  Schatz,  Wheaton 

Brig.  Gen.  Robt.  E.  Wood,  Chicago 

Sgt.  David  S.  Wright,  Oak  Park 


INDIANA 

Col.  Solon  J.  Carter, 
Ensign  Wm.  L.  Hutcheson, 
Sgt.  R.  J.  Leeds, 

IOWA 

Sgt.  Chas.  A.  Doxsee, 
Major  H.  H.  Polk, 

KANSAS 

Gen.  Chas.  I.  Martin, 
Gen.  Wilder  S.  Metcalf, 
Sgt.  Fred  C.  Stanford, 
Sgt.  Mahlon  S.  Weed, 


Indianapolis 
Indianapolis 
Richmond 


Monticello 
Des  Moines 


Topeka 
Lawrence 
Independence 
Lawrence 


Pre-Caucus  Days  in  America 


37 


KENTUCKY 

Pvt.  Samuel  J.  Culbertson 
Lt.  W.  C.  Dabney, 
Capt.  Shelby  Harbison, 
Major  James  Wheeler, 


Louisville 
Louisville 
Lexington 
Paducah 


LOUISIANA 

Capt.  Allen  Cook, 

Lt.  John  M.  Parker,  Jr., 


New  Orleans 
New  Orleans 


MAINE 

Lt.  Col.  Arthur  Ashworth 
Col.  Frank  W.  Hume, 
Capt.  A.  L.  Robinson, 
Pvt.  Daniel  J.  Smart, 
Sgt.  Wm.  H.  Whalen, 
Sgt.  Freeman  Wheaton, 


Bangor 
I03d  Inf. 
Portland 

iO3d  Inf. 
I07th  Inf. 


MARYLAND 

Lt.  James  A.  Gary,  Jr. 
Sgt.  Alexander  Randall, 
Major  Redmond  Stewart, 
Brig.  Gen.  W.  S.  Thayer, 


Baltimore 
Baltimore 
Baltimore 
Baltimore 


MASSACHUSETTS 

Brig.  Gen.  Charles  H.  Cole,  Boston 

Sgt.  Edw.  J.  Creed,  loist  Inf. 

Sgt.  Ernest  H.  Eastman,  iO4th  Inf. 

Major  J.  W.  Farley,  Boston 

Lt.  Col.  Louis  Frothingham,  Boston 

Sgt.  Geo.  Gilbody,  loist  Inf. 
Sgt.  Daniel  J.  Nolan, 


MICHIGAN 

Lt.  Col.  Fredk.  M.  Alger,  Detroit 

Sgt.  Rand  F.  English,  Detroit 

ist  Sgt.  Wm.  King,  Detroit 

Lt.  Commander  Truman  H.  Newberry,  Detroit 


38       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

MINNESOTA 

Pvt.  Gordon  Clark,  Duluth 

Major  Paul  B.  Cook,  St.  Paul 

Pvt.  Wm.  D.  Mitchell,  St.  Paul 

Pvt.  W.  Bissell  Thomas,  Minneapolis 

MISSISSIPPI 

Lt.  John  N.  Alexander,  Jackson 

Sgt.  Maj.  C.  J.  Craggs,  Greenville 
Major  Alex.  Pitzhugh,                        \     Vicksburg 

Corp.  Isador  A.  Frank,  Clarksdale 

Sgt.  Elmer  Price,  McComb 

MISSOURI 

Brig.  Gen.  H.  C.  Clarke,  Jefferson  City 

Pvt.  David  R.  Francis,  Jr.,  St.  Louis 

Corp.  Sestus  J.  Wade,  Jr.,  St.  Louis 

MONTANA 

Col.  J.  J.  McGuiness,  Helena 

Corp.  Chas.  S.  Pew,  Helena 

NEBRASKA 

Major  P.  F.  Cosgrove,  Lincoln 

Pvt.  T.  T.  McGuire,  Omaha 

Sgt.  R.  Scott,  Imperial 

Lt.  Allan  A.  Tukeu,  Omaha 

NEVADA 

Sgt.  E.  L.  Malsbary,  Reno 

Lt.  Col.  Jas.  G.  Scrugham,  Reno 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 

Sgt.  Herve  L'Heureaux,  Manchester 

Major  Frank  Knox,  Manchester 

NEW  JERSEY 

Col.  Hobart  Brown,  Newark 

Sgt.  Allan  Eggers,  Summit 

ist  Lt.  Geo.  W.  C.  McCarter,  Newark 

Corp.  Roger  Young,  Newark 


Pre-Caucus  Days  in  America 


39 


NEW  MEXICO 

Ca.pt.  Bronson  M.  Cutting, 
Col.  Debjemond, 
Pvt.  Canute  Trujillo, 


Santa  F<§ 

Roswell 

Chimayo 


NEW  YORK 

Lt.  Col.  Robert  Bacon,  New  York 

Lt.  Col.  Grenville  Clark,  New  York 

Brig.  Gen.  Chas.  I.  Debevoise,  Brooklyn 

Pvt.  Meade  C.  Dobson,  New  York 

Col.  Wm.  J.  Donovan,  New  York 

Lt.  Samuel  Gompers,  Jr.,  New  York 

Seaman  Jos.  F.  Healey,  New  York 

Chaplain  Francis  A.  Kelley,  Albany 

Lt.  Col.  J.  Leslie  Kincaid,  Syracuse 

Ensign  Jerome  H.  Larger,  Brooklyn 

Ensign  W.  G.  McAdoo,  Jr.,  New  York 
Sgt.  Major  Howard  H.  McLellan,         Yonkers 

Ensign  R.  H.  Mitchell,  New  York 

Major  General  John  F.  O'Ryan,  New  York 

Lt.  D.  Lincoln  Reed,  New  York 

Col.  Henry  L.  Stimson,  New  York 

Lt.  Col.  Chas.  W.  Whittlesey,  New  York 
Major  Cornelius  W.  Wickersham,         New  York 

Sgt.  Clarence  E.  Williams,  New  York 


NORTH  CAROLINA 
Lt.  R.  W.  Glenn, 
Lt.  Cyrus  D.  Hogue, 


Greensboro 
Wilmington 


NORTH  DAKOTA 

Capt.  Matthew  Murphy, 


Fargo 


OHIO 


Sgt.  Jas.  K.  Campbell, 
Lt.  Col.  Jas.  R.  Cochran, 
Lt.  Col.  Ralph  D.  Cole, 
Lt,  Col.  Isadore  H.  Duke, 


Shreve 
Columbus 

Columbus  or  Findlay 
Cincinnati 


40       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


OKLAHOMA 

Sgt.  Eugene  Atkins, 
Brig.  Gen.  Roy  Hoffman, 


Muskogee 
Oklahoma  City 


OREGON 

Pvt.  Harry  Critchlow, 
Sgt.  Carl  B.  Fenton, 
Lt.  Col.  Geo.  Kelley, 
Col.  F.  W.  Leadbetter, 
Lt.  Col.  Geo.  A.  White, 


Portland 

Dallas 

Portland 

Portland 

Portland 


PENNSYLVANIA 

Major  Chas.  J.  Biddle,  Philadelphia 

Lt.  Joseph  F.  Frayne,  Scranton 

Lt.  Col.  Robt.  E.  Glendinning,  Philadelphia 

Lt.  Col.  John  Price  Jackson,  Harrisburg 

Pvt.  George  Jones,  Scranton 

Maj.  Alexander  Laughlin,  Jr.,  Pittsburg 

Col.  Asher  Miner,  Wilkes-Barre 

Lt.  John  R.  Sproul,  Chester 

Lt.  Bernard  J.  Voll,  Philadelphia 

RHODE  ISLAND 

Major  Geo.  E.  Buxton,  Jr.,  Providence 

Col.  Everitte  St.  J.  Chaffee,  Providence 

Sgt.  W.  C.  Kendrick,  Pawtucket 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 

Sgt.  W.  C.  Coward, 
Lt.  Chas.  C.  Pinckney, 
C.  T.  Trenholm, 
Major  W.  D.  Workman, 


Cheraw 
Charleston 
Charleston 
Greenville 


SOUTH  DAKOTA 

Capt.  Lawrence  R.  Bates, 
Capt.  Royal  C.  Johnson, 
Sgt.  Ruble  Lavery, 
Sgt.  Jos.  F.  Pfeiffer, 


Sioux  Falls 
Aberdeen 
Vermilion 
Rapid  City 


Pre-Caucus  Days  in  America 

TENNESSEE 

Col.  James  A.  Gleason,  Knoxville 

Sgt.  Major  Keith  J.  Harris,  Chattanooga 

Sgt.  John  Hays,  Memphis 

Col.  Luke  Lea,  Nashville 

Major  T.  C.  Thompson,  Jr.  Chattanooga 

Pvt.  C.  W.  Tomlinson,  Chattanooga 

TEXAS 

Capt.  Stanley  E.  Kempner,  Galveston 

Col.  H.  D.  Lindsley,  Dallas 

Col.  H.  B.  Moore,  Texas  City 

UTAH 

Sgt.  Maj.  H.  H.  McCartney,  Salt  Lake  City 

Gen.  R.  W.  Young,  Salt  Lake  City 

VIRGINIA 

Pvt.  Frank  G.  Christian,  Richmond 

Lt.  C.  Francis  Cocke,  Roanoke 

Col.  Stuart  McGuire,  Richmond 

VERMONT 

Pvt.  Donald  J.  Emery,  Newport 

Sgt.  Eugene  V.  Finn,  St.  Albans 

Major  H.  Nelson  Jackson,  Burlington 

Capt.  Redfield  Proctor,  Burlington 

WASHINGTON 

Lt.  Col.  R.  W.  Llewellen,  Seattle 

Major  P.  P.  Marion,  Seattle 

Brig.  Gen.  Harvey  J.  Moss,  Seattle 

Sgt.  John  J.  Sullivan,  N.  Seattle 

Sgt.  Major  R.  H.  Winsor,  Tacoma 

WEST  VIRGINIA 

Capt.  Fleming  W.  Alderson,  Charleston 

Sgt.  Walter  S.  Moore,  Huntington 

Sgt.  Thomas  Schofield,  Wheeling 

Lt.  Col.  Jackson  A.  Westoa,  Charleston 


42      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

WISCONSIN 

Edward  F.  Ackley,  Milwaukee 

Pvt.  David  Bloodgood,  Milwaukee 

Sgt.  Elmer  S.  Owens,  Milwaukee 

Col.  Gilbert  E.  Seaman,  Milwaukee 

Pvt.  John  P.  Szulcek,  Milwaukee 

WYOMING 

Major  A.  S.  Beach,  Lusk 

Sgt.  Morris  A.  Dinneen,  Cheyenne 

Pvt.  I.  H.  Larom,  Valley  Ranch 


United  American  War  Veterans,  Warren  S.  Fischer,  Commander- 

in-Chief 

Comrades  in  Service,  Bishop  Brent,  President, 

National  Legion  of  America,        Major  Elihu  Church, 
American  Army  Association,        Lt.  Haywood  Hillyer, 

General  Secretary. 


Just  about  this  time  it  became  most  necessary 
to  properly  present  the  Legion  to  those  men  who 
had  remained  at  home  and  who  had  gotten  out 
of  the  Service,  and  to  those  who  were  incoming 
from  France  and  rapidily  being  demobilized,  as  it 
was  upon  them  that  the  success  of  the  Legion 
depended.  Furthermore,  their  opinions  were  the 
soil  upon  which  the  various  State  organizations 
had  to  work,  and  at  that  particular  time  it  was 
vital  that  the  Legion  should  be  widely  known  and 
thoroughly  understood;  that  its  aims  and  ambi- 
tions should  not  be  misconstrued  either  willfully 


Pre-Caucus  Days  in  America  43 

or  unintentionally,  nor  its  precepts  perverted.  To 
this  end  the  temporary  Chairman  proceeded  to 
publicize  it  in  the  most  thorough  fashion.  One- 
page  bulletins  briefly  outlining  the  Legion's  aims 
and  ambitions  were  distributed  in  every  center 
where  soldiers  and  seamen  gathered.  Such  places 
as  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  K.  of  C.  huts  and  War  Camp 
Community  recreation  centers  were  thoroughly 
informed,  and  bulletins  also  were  sent  to  every 
ship  in  the  navy  with  the  request  that  they  be 
placed  on  the  ship's  bulletin  board. 

Literature  about  the  Legion  was  placed  on 
transports  when  they  left  empty  for  France  so  that 
the  men  might  read  it  in  their  leisure  hours  return- 
ing home.  In  order  to  make  sure  that  every  sol- 
dier and  sailor  would  have  the  opportunity  to 
know  about  the  Legion  this  literature  was  again 
placed  on  the  transports  as  they  arrived  in  New 
York  harbor.  Various  demobilization  camps 
throughout  the  country  were  widely  placarded 
and  in  each  instance  the  names  of  the  Temporary 
State  Secretaries  were  given,  and  service  men 
were  invited  to  write  to  the  Secretaries  in  their 
particular  States.  Camp  publications,  newspapers, 
and  periodicals  published  for  service  men  through- 
out the  country  were  bountifully  supplied  with 
Legion  information  and  scores  of  them  carried 
special  stories  in  regard  to  it.  Bulletins  and  pam- 


44       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

phlets  were  distributed  in  hospitals,  placed  on  bulle- 
tin boards,  and  given  to  the  patients.  Every 
mayor  of  a  town  or  city  with  a  population  above 
nine  hundred  got  a  letter  containing  literature 
about  the  Legion  with  a  request  that  it  be  given 
publicity  in  the  local  press  and  then  turned  over  to 
the  Chairman  of  the  Welcome  Home  Committee. 
Certain  national  magazines  devoted  a  great  deal 
of  space  to  special  articles  explaining  the  Legion. 

Three  or  four  times  a  week  the  Foreign  Press 
Bureau  of  the  United  States  Government  sent 
stories  about  the  Legion  and  its  activities  by  wire- 
less to  the  ships  on  sea  and  to  the  men  of  the  A.  E. 
F.  in  connection  with  its  "Home  News  Service." 
In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  articles  appeared 
almost  daily  in  the  press  throughout  the  entire 
country,  and  by  the  time  the  convention  was  ready 
to  meet  those  who  ran  and  cared  to  read  were 
fully  informed  that  the  American  Legion  was  an 
organization  for  veterans  of  the  army,  navy,  and 
marine  corp;  that  it  was  non-partisan  and  non- 
political  ;  that  it  stood  for  law  and  order,  decent 
living,  decent  thinking,  and  true  Americanism. 

The  wide  publicity  given  to  the  Legion  and  its 
aims  brought  into  the  Temporary  Committee 
many  amusing  letters.  Scores  of  them  complained 
of  the  published  statement  that  it  was  non-partisan 
and  non-political.  ' '  Damn  it  all,  we  want  it  to  be 


Pre-Caucus  Days  in  America  45 

political  and  partisan/*  one  angry  Westerner  wrote. 
Another  correspondent  insisted  that  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  sons  of  Theodore  Roosevelt,  and  Speaker 
Champ  Clark  were  interested,  the  Legion  must 
be  bi-partisan  and  bi-political.  But  most  of  the 
letters  were  of  a  highly  commendatory  character, 
expressing  the  deepest  and  widest  possible  interest. 
I  recall  that  one  of  them  came  from  Junction  City, 
Kansas,  another  from  Old  Town,  Maine;  one  from 
Delray,  Texas,  and  others  from  Wolf  Creek, 
Montana,  Orlando,  Florida,  and  Ray's  Crossing, 
Indiana,  while  a  postal  card  making  frantic  in- 
quiries was  dated  Nome,  Alaska,  and  arrived  a 
week  after  the  caucus  at  St.  Louis.  I  have  men- 
tioned these  towns  and  localities  because  they 
indicate  how  widespread  and  deep  is  the  interest 
in  the  Legion.  No  matter  where  a  man  came  from 
to  go  into  the  army,  the  Legion  will  go  to  him  in 
his  home  now.  Its  members  will  range  from  fisher- 
men on  the  Florida  Keys  to  the  mail  carriers  on 
the  Tanana  in  Alaska,  from  the  mill  hands  of  New 
England  to  the  cotton  planters  of  the  Mississippi 
delta.  All  who  wore  the  uniform  may  enroll  just 
so  long  as  the  word  Americanism  was  inscribed 
in  their  hearts  between  April  6,  1917,  and  Novem- 
ber n,  1918. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  ADVANCE   COMMITTEE 

WHEN  the  St.  Louisian  puffed  its  way  into  the 
big  smoke-begrimed  station  in  Missouri's  largest 
city  I  looked  about  me  for  Bill,  who  was  going  to 
meet  me  at  the  station.  We  had  not  met  since  our 
prep,  school  and  college  days  when  Bill  had  been 
a  thin,  wizened  little  fellow,  so  hollow-chested 
that  he  had  to  be  sent  to  Colorado  for  almost  two 
years  for  his  health.  He  came  back  to  school 
looking  better  but  before  his  diploma  was  handed 
to  him  announcing  to  the  world  that  he  was  a  full- 
fledged  Bachelor  of  Arts,  he  had  fallen  apparently 
permanently  into  the  rut  of  ill-health.  In  fact  I 
wondered,  when  we  all  sang  Auld  Lang  Syne  in 
the  fraternity  house  at  the  close  of  college,  if  I'd 
ever  see  Bill  again. 

From  time  to  time  I  had  heard  from  him  in  the 
years  that  followed,  and  one  day  in  the  summer  of 
1917  he  wrote  me  that  he  was  on  the  way  to  France. 

While  I  gazed  up  and  down  the  smoke-laden 
platform,  I  got  a  slap  on  the  shoulder  that  sent  me 

46 


The  Advance  Committee  47 

spinning,  and  there  was  the  once  emaciated  Bill, 
who  seemed  to  have  grown  three  inches  and  to  have 
put  on  seventy-five  pounds. 

As  we  walked  toward  the  taxicab  stand  I  began 
to  realize  that  instead  of  an  old  friend,  a  stranger 
was  beside  me.  True  enough,  he  had  the  same 
name  and  the  same  colored  eyes,  and  his  hair 
hadn't  changed.  But  the  rather  dreamy  eye  had 
cleared,  the  pale  face  of  old  was  tanned,  and  Bill's 
chest — the  one  he  had  gone  to  Colorado  for — was 
bulging  out  as  he  carried  my  two  heavy  suit  cases 
like  a  pouter  pigeon's  at  a  poultry  show. 

What  had  happened  to  Bill?  The  little,  quiet, 
timid  youth  of  the  past  was  now  a  big,  burly,  strong- 
bodied,  clear-minded  man.  As  we  entered  the  taxi 
he  was  telling  me  that  he  "  intended  to  raise  hell 
if  they  didn't  take  some  action  against  this  blank 
Bolshevism,  and  furthermore  that  this  new  Legion 
was  going  to  be  the  most  tremendous  organization 
that  the  U.  S.  A.  had  ever  seen."  If  he  had  told 
me  that  Swinburne's  Faustine  was  written  in  iam- 
bic hexameter  it  would  have  sounded  more  like  old 
times.  But  here  was  a  new  man,  strong  and  virile, 
intensely  interested  in  the  future  of  his  nation. 

What  had  happened  to  Bill?  Eighteen  months 
in  the  army  was  the  answer. 

The  advanced  delegation  began  to  arrive  in  St. 
Louis,  the  afternoon  of  May  5th.  The  Statler  and 


48      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Jefferson  Hotels  were  packed  because  there  were 
two  other  conventions  in  progress.  But  our  dele- 
gates needed  no  ./badge  to  be  distinguished  from 
the  others;  there  was  a  difference  between  them 
and  the  other  conventionites.  There  was  the  same 
difference  between  the  two  as  between  the  old  Bill 
and  the  new  Bill.  They  too  had  had  eighteen 
months  in  the  army,  and  a  coat  of  tan  on  each 
one's  face,  his  ruddy  frame,  and  general  atmosphere 
of  a  healthy  mind  and  a  healthy  body  were  un- 
mistakable emblems. 

This  advanced  delegation,  two  from  each  State, 
had  been  requested  to  come  beforehand  to  meet  on 
the  morning  of  Tuesday,  May  6th,  so  as  to  for- 
mulate a  working  order  of  business  on  which  the 
caucus  might  proceed  as  soon  as  it  assembled. 
There  was  another  reason  for  this  meeting  also. 
The  temporary  committee  wanted  to  avoid  any 
appearance  of  having  "framed  up  the  caucus." 
By  this  it  is  meant  that  the  committee  wanted 
to  be  able  to  say  to  the  caucus  that  its  working 
procedure  had  been  determined  by  a  thoroughly 
representative  body,  a  democratic,  advanced  dele- 
gation composed  of  men  from  every  State  in  the 
Union.  There  were  those  critics  of  the  Legion, 
who,  had  the  temporary  committee  formulated 
the  caucus  procedure,  would  have  been  only  too 
glad  to  have  attempted  to  make  trouble  by  saying 


The  Advance  Committee  49 

it  was  a  controlled  and  made-to-order  caucus — 
controlled  and  made-to-order  by  the  men  who 
had  taken  the  lead  in  it.  In  fact,  during  the  early 
morning  of  the  first  day  the  advanced  committee 
met  one  delegation  arrived  with  blood  in  its  eyes 
determined  to  wage  a  fight  against  universal  mili- 
tary training.  One  of  the  stories  circulated  at 
the  time  was  to  the  effect  that  the  entire  Legion 
was  nothing  but  a  blind  whereby  a  mysterious 
" Military  Clique"  was  to  gain  supreme  power 
over  the  Legion's  policies.  It  took  but  a  very 
short  while  to  convince  the  would-be  obstreperous 
delegation  that  the  caucus  was  not  the  convention 
and  was  empowered  solely  to  organize  a  veterans' 
association  and  not  to  adopt  policies. 

The  temporarv  committee  in  America  deter- 
mined at  the  very  beginning  that  no  policies  would 
be  adopted  at  the  caucus,  that  the  Legion  at  this 
time  should  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  its  comrades 
abroad  in  stating  that  neither  the  men  here  nor 
the  men  there  could,  as  different  units,  adopt 
broad  policies  until  a  convention  could  be  held 
truly  representing  all  men  who  had  fought  in  the 
Great  War. 

Colonel  Roosevelt   called   the  advanced   com-") 
mittee  to  order  a  little  after  two  o'clock  in  the  \ 
afternoon,  in  a  small  and  very  noisy  parlor  in  the 
Hotel  Statler.    The  gavel  which  he  used  was  made 


50       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

from  wood  from  the  rudder  of  Admiral  Peary's 
North  Pole  steamship  The  Roosevelt,  which  had 
been  presented  to  him  by  Colonel  E.  Lester  Jones 
of  Washington,  D.  C. 

''The  idea  underlying  the  formation  of  the 
American  Legion  is  the  feeling  among  the  great 
mass  of  the  men  who  served  in  the  forces  of  this 
country  during  the  war,  that  the  impulse  of  pa- 
triotism which  prompted  their  efforts  and  sacrifices 
should  be  so  preserved  that  it  might  become  a 
strong  force  in  the  future  for  true  Americanism  and 
better  citizenship,"  Colonel  Roosevelt  said.  He 
spoke  very  slowly  and  measured  his  words  care- 
fully but  emphasized  them  in  a  tone  of  deepest 
conviction.  "  We  will  be  facing  troublous  times  in 
the  coming  years, ' '  he  continued  ' '  and  to  my  mind 
no  greater  safeguard  could  be  devised  than  those 
poldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  formed  in  their  own 
association,  in  such  manner  that  they  could  make 
themselves  felt  for  law  and  order,  decent  living 
and  thinking,  and  truer  'nationalism." 

In  this  opening  sentence,  Colonel  Roosevelt 
foreshadowed  the  spirit  of  the  entire  caucus.  These 
service  men  wanted  an  organization  not  for  their 
own  special  benefit,  not  that  they  might  obtain 
pensions  or  offices,  but  that  they  might  become  a 
power  for  truer  Americanism  and  better  citizen- 


The  Advance  Commi  t tee  5 1 

Colonel  Wood,  the  secretary,  explained  in 
greater  detail  the  purpose  of  the  proposed  Legion. 
He  broached  the  subject  of  the  reemployment  for 
soldiers,  a  legal  department  for  the  handling  of 
insurance  claims,  allotments,  etc.,  and  sketched 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  organization  as 
follows : 

First,  its  non-partisanship. 

Second,  that  this  society  should  be  equally  for 
those  whose  duty  called  them  overseas  and  for 
those  who  were  held  by  circumstances  on  this 
side. 

Third,  that  it  is  fundamentally  a  civilian  or- 
ganization, one  in  which  all  ranks,  be  they  private 
or  general,  admiral  or  seaman,  should  have  an 
equal  share  and  participation. 

Then  the  advance  committeemen  began  them- 
selves to  talk.  Each  one,  no  matter  on  what  sub- 
ject and  regardless  of  the  side  he  took  upon  it, 
was  permitted  to  air  his  feelings  to  the  full  satis- 
faction of  himself  at  least.  Like  the  Paris  Caucus, 
the  discussion  grew  heated  at  times  and  every  now 
and  then  the  chair  was  forced  to  remind  overly 
fervid  orators  that  this  was  an  advanced  meeting 
of  the  caucus  and  not  the  convention.  There 
were  those  present  who  wanted  to  obligate  the 
caucus  to  go  on  record  for  or  against  universal 
military  training,  woman  suffrage,  prohibition, 


52       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

permanent  headquarters,  and  to  elect  permanent 
officers,  and  each  of  these  had  to  be  shown  that  it 
would  be  unfair  to  the  men  still  in  the  A.  E.  F. 
to  take  such  preeminently  vital  steps  without 
consulting  them.  Then  there  were  those  present 
who  wanted  to  exclude  members  of  the  regular 
army  and  navy  from  the  Legion;  that  is,  to  limit 
eligibility  in  the  organization  to  those  who  could 
show  discharge  papers  from  either  the  army, 
navy,  or  marine  corps.  This  measure  was  voted 
down  and  it  was  given  as  the  sense  of  the  advanced 
committee  meeting  that  those  who  served  in  the 
Great  War  would  have  perfect  liberty  to  join 
regardless  of  whether  their  service  continued  in 
the  military  establishment  after  the  armistice  or 
after  peace  was  formally  declared. 

The  advanced  committee  outlined  the  order  of 
business  upon  which  the  caucus  could  proceed, 
named  the  various  committees  to  be  organized, 
and  discussed  the  resolutions  which  were  deemed 
wise  and  expedient  topics  for  discussion. 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  delegates  from  every 
district  in  the  country  began  to  arrive,  almost 
one  thousand  new  Bills,  husky  of  frame,  some  still 
in  uniform  with  the  red  discharge  chevron  on  their 
left  sleeves;  others  who  had  manifestly  tried  to 
get  the  new  Bill  into  the  old  Bill's  1916  suit  of 
clothes,  and  still  others  in  new  bib  and  tucker, 


The  Advance  Committee  53 

looking  exceedingly  comfortable  after  almost  two 
years  in  putties,  heavy  shoes,  and  tight  blouses. 

Every  man  came  with  one  deep-rooted  deter- 
mination and  that  was  to  see  that  no  one  "put 
anything  over*7  which  might  make  an  organization 
so  embryonically  useful  take  a  fatal  or  selfish  step. 
Each  came,  perhaps  imbued  to  a  certain  extent 
with  his  own  particular  ideas  on  how  everything 
should  be  conducted;  but  the  radicalism,  sectional- 
ism, and  partisanship  which  would  have  marked  a 
gathering  of  these  same  men  three  years  before 
was  not  present.  The  men  who  had  thought  that 
nothing  good  could  come  except  from  south  of 
the  Mason  and  Dixon  line  had  fought  side  by  side 
with  woodsmen  from  Maine.  The  man  who  had 
thought  the  East  effete  had  done  duty  on  a  de- 
stroyer with  a  boy  from  Harlem.  Everybody 
realized  full  well  that  sectionalism  must  be  aban- 
doned whenever  it  clashed  with  nationalism;  and 
abandoned  it  was,  with  right  good  will. 

The  meeting  of  the    advance    committeemen 
justified  itself  as  a  very  wise  and  judicious  action 
on  the  part  of  the  temporary  committee.     Any 
suspicion  of  a  particular  delegation  that  anything 
was  "  framed "  was  quickly  allayed  after  a  con- 
ference with  its  advance   committeemen.      If  a  ] 
man  from  Pennsylvania  suspected  that  anything  ? 
was  on  foot  not  to  the  liking  of  the  Keystone 


54       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

State  he  had  only  to  ask  his  advance  commit- 
teeman,  Colonel  D'Olier,  about  it.  Incidentally 
the  personnel  of  the  advance  committee  was  not 
so  numerous  that  everybody  couldn't  know  what 
everybody  else  was  doing.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
everybody  did  know  what  everybody  else  was 
doing.  One  of  the  most  peculiar  facts  of  this 
most  interesting  caucus  was  that  when  it  came  to 
"pussy  footing"  pussy  seemed  to  foot  it  on  piano 
keys  so  far  as  secrecy  was  concerned  and  in  such  a 
fashion  that  usually  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  was 
played.  I  know  that  the  night  and  the  morning 
before  the  caucus  met  that  there  were  many  and 
various  powwows  and  conferences,  a  great  many 
of  which  I  attended,  but  there  wasn't  a  one  that  I 
knew  of  or  ever  heard  about,  the  full  details  of 
which  could  not  have  been  printed  in  bold-faced 
type  on  the  front  page  of  every  St.  Louis  newspaper 
and  have  reflected  credit  on  the  powwowers  as 
well  as  on  the  American  Legion. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  ST.  LOUIS  CAUCUS,  MAY  8,  9,  AND  IO 

ALL  during  the  morning  of  May  8th  that  delega- 
tion was  constantly  getting  together  with  this 
delegation;  this  leader  conferring  with  that  one; 
was  this  question  going  to  come  up,  and  what  would 
be  done  if  that  question  was  tabled?  Everybody 
interested,  everybody  excited,  everybody  waiting 
to  see  the  other  fellow's  hand  at  the  show-down, 
which  was  scheduled  for  the  Shubert-Jefferson 
Theater  at  half -past  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
Of  course,  everybody  had  found  out  the  previous 
evening  that  every  card  in  the  pack  was  red,  white, 
and  blue,  and  that,  from  the  very  beginning  of  the 
game,  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  keep  the 
knaves  out.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  they'd  never  been 
in,  but  the  new  Bills  who  made  up  the  delegations 
to  this  caucus  were  going  to  look  everybody  over 
mighty  carefully  before  any  serious  playing  was' 
done. 

Suppressed   excitement  doesn't  describe  at  all 
the  half -hour  preceding  the  opening  of  the  caucus, 

55 


56       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

because  the  excitement  was  not  suppressed  in  the 
least.  Eager,  shining,  tanned  faces,  eyes  alert, 
heads  erect,  straight-bodied  and  straight-talking 
men  one  by  one  took  seats  which  T/vere  assigned 
to  them  by  delegations. 

A  flashlight  photograph  of  the  gathering  was 
made,  but  this  caucus  was  not  one  that  could  be 
pictured  by  the  camera  at  all  accurately.  The 
outstanding  feature  of  this  great  get  together  was 
the  spirit  of  the  men,  and  that  no  camera  could 
catch. 

Three  large  wooden  tiers  of  seats,  the  kind  the 
circus  has  under  canvas,  were  built  in  a  sort  of 
semicircular  fashion  around  the  large  stage.  The 
New  York  delegation  occupied  one  of  these  tiers; 
the  Ohioans  another,  while  the  third  was  built  for 
distinguished  guests.  If  any  distinguished  guests 
came  they  were  entirely  put  out  of  the  limelight 
by  the  audience,  for  this  was  one  show  which  was 
enacted  before  the  footlights  rather  than  behind 
them,  and,  with  one  or  two  exceptions  the  star  per- 
forming took  place  where  the  spectators  usually 
sit.  In  fact,  the  only  spectators  that  I  saw  were 
the  newspaper  men,  seated  at  tables  within  the 
corral  formed  by  the  tiers.  All  of  them  had  beten 
in  the  army  or  navy  or  had  seen  the  big  show 
abroad  as  war  correspondents. 

When  Theodore  Roosevelt,  as  temporary  chair- 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9,  and  10    57 

man  jammed  that  gaveled  bit  of  the  rudder  of 
the  North  Pole  ship  down  hard  on  the  table  and 
called  the  meeting  to  order  he  got  what  he  had 
never  received  while  in  the  army:  that  is,  direct 
disobedience.  He  commanded  order,  and  there 
was  utter  disorder.  It  was  rank  insubordination, 
distinctly  requiring  court-martial  of  everyone  pres- 
ent, from  a  military  point  of  view — but  the  American 
Legion  isn't  military !  And  so  the  delegates  howled 
joyously.  Roosevelt,  demanding  order  at  this  time, 
had  just  about  as  much  chance  of  getting  it  as  the 
Kaiser  has  of  making  Prince  Joachim  King  of  the 
Bronx.  Somebody  started  a  cheer,  and  the  crowd 
didn't  stop  yelling  for  two  minutes  and  a  half. 

4 'Young  Teddy,"  as  they  called  him,  was  mani- 
festly surprised  at  the  ovation  and  tried  repeatedly 
to  get  the  crowd  quiet.  He  wanted  to  be  pleasant 
and  yet  he  wanted  order  and  so  between  knocks 
with  his  gavel  he  smiled.  And  a  very  engaging 
smile  it  was,  too. 

' '  Gentlemen, ' '  he  pleaded.  ' '  Gentlemen,  a  little 
order.'*  Finally  there  was  comparative  quiet. 
"Now  let's  proceed  to  the  business  of  the  meeting. 
The  floor  is  open  for  nominations  for  permanent 
chairman  of  this  caucus. " 

Sergeant  Jack  Sullivan  of  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington got  the  floor.  Sergeant  Jack  is  a  husky 
northwesterner  who  did  his  bit  in  the  intelli- 


58      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

gence  section  in  Seattle  and  has  seen  a  lot  of  the 
Bolsheviki  out  there. 

4 'In  behalf  of  the  State  of  Washington  and  rep- 
resenting the  men  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the  Pacific 
Northwest,  it  gives  me  pleasure  at  this  time  to 
place  for  your  consideration  the  name  of  a  sterling 
patriot,'*  he  shouted.  "The  man  I  am  going  to 
place  in  nomination  proved  himself  to  be  a  one 
hundred  per  cent,  true  blooded  American  when  his 
country's  honor  was  assailed.  He  was  among  the 
first  who  placed  himself  in  the  front-line  trenches, 
he  was  wounded  twice,  he  was  ready  and  willing 
to  make  the  supreme  sacrifice  in  order  that  this 
world  might  be  made  safe  for  democracy.  I  deem 
it  an  honor  and  a  privilege,  and  the  Pacific  North- 
west deems  it  an  honor  and  a  privilege  to  place  in 
nomination  the  worthy  son  of  a  worthy  sire — 
Theodore  Roosevelt. " 

The  crowd  seemed  to  know  all  along  who  Jack 
meant  and  it  held  its  enthusiasm  in  tether  as  best 
it  could.  But  when  Sullivan  got  to  the  word 
Theodore,  the  Roosevelt  was  drowned  out  in  the 
mightiest  cheer  that  is  possible  for  eight  or  nine 
hundred  throats  to  utter.  The  second  to  the  mo- 
tion, made  by  Colonel  Luke  Lea  of  Tennessee, 
wasn't  heard  at  all.  This  time  it  took  Colonel 
Roosevelt  more  than  two  minutes  to  get  order. 

"Gentlemen,  I  want  to  speak  on  that  now, "  he 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9,  and  10    59 

shouted  and  during  a  lull  in  the  cheering  managed 
to  make  himself  heard.  ' '  I  wish  to  say  that  I  want 
to  withdraw  my  name  from  nomination " 

But  the  "gang  wouldn't  hear  to  it. "  Somebody 
raised  the  old  cry: 

"We  want  Teddy!"  "We  want  Teddy!"  "We 
want  Teddy!"  they  chanted  in  unison.  Bedlam 
broke  loose  at  that.  Men  stood  on  their  seats 
and  waved  their  hats  and  handkerchiefs;  some 
took  their  collars  and  neckties  off;  some  wept, 
some  cursed  for  sheer  joy  and  others — I  believe 
that  when  Gabriel  blows  his  horn  and  all  the 
dead  arise  that  some  of  the  men  who  attended 
that  caucus  will  try  to  make  a  speech!  These 
speeches  were  going  on  four  and  five  at  a  time 
during  the  entire  hullabaloo.  It  didn't  seem  to 
matter  in  the  least  to  the  speakers  that  they  weren't 
being  heard.  They  couldn't  hear  themselves.  They 
added  a  little  to  the  noise  and  that  satisfied  the 
crowd  and  seemed  to  satisfy  them. 

"Please,  please  let  me  talk,"  pleaded  Colonel 
Roosevelt.  He  finally  got  his  plea  over  by  means 
of  the  sign  language. 

* '  I  want  to  withdraw  my  name  for  a  number  of 
reasons, "  he  continued.  "The  first  is  that  I  want 
the  country  at  large  to  get  the  correct  impression 
of  this  meeting  here.  We  are  gathered  together 
for  a  very  high  purpose.  I  want  every  American 


60      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

through  the  length  and  breadth  of  this  land  to 
realize  that  there  isn't  a  man  in  this  convention 
who  is  seeking  anything  for  himself  personally; 
that  all  of  us  are  working  simply  for  the  good  of  the 
entire  country.  I  believe,  furthermore,  that  what 
we  want  here  is  someone  who  has  been  connected 
with  the  movement  only  since  it  started  on  this 
side  of  the  water,  someone  who  originates  from 
the  convention. " 

The  din  started  again. 

"No,  no,  gentlemen, "  shouted  the  Colonel.  "I 
want  to  withdraw.  It  is  my  earnest  wish.  It  is 
my  absolute  determination. " 

But  the  caucus  seemed  equally  determined/ 
"We  want  Teddy!"  "We're  going  to  have 
Teddy ! "  "  You  got  this  thing  going,  you  ought  to 
run  it."  Colonel  Roosevelt  paced  up  and  down 
the  stage,  trying  his  best  to  silence  them.  Then, 
during  the  din,  one  by  one  some  of  his  oldest 
friends  went  to  him  and  begged  him  to  accede  to 
the  crowd's  wish.  "Take  it  Ted,"  they  urged. 
4 'Take  it."  That  underslung  jaw  of  the  young 
Colonel's  became  rigid. 

' '  I  won't  do  it.    I  can't  do  it, "  he  answered. 

Then  someone  managed  to  make  a  motion  that 
the  nomination  of  Colonel  Roosevelt  be  made 
unanimous.  It  was  seconded  and  made  extremely 
unanimous. 


Theodore  Roosevelt,  Jr. 


H 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9,  and  10    61 

"Then,  gentlemen,  I  accept  and  I  resign,0 
Colonel  Roosevelt  said.  "I  want  quiet  for  a 
moment  here  on  this  situation.  This  is  something 
that  I  have  thought  about  and  have  given  my  most 
earnest  consideration.  I  am  positive  I  am  right 
on  it.  We  must  not  have  creep  into  this  situation, 
in  which  we  all  believe  from  the  bottom  of  our 
hearts,  the  slightest  suspicion  in  the  country  at 
large.  I  don't  think  there  is  any  suspicion  among 
us  that  anyone  is  trying  to  use  it  for  his  personal 
advancement.  But  it  is  absolutely  essential  that 
this  spirit  be  proven.  I  am  going  to  stick  by  this 
from  the  beginning  down  to  the  very  end  because, 
in  my  opinion,  we  have  got  to  create  to-day  the 
impression  all  over  the  country  on  which  this  or- 
ganization will  carry  on  and  serve  a  great  purpose 
for  years  to  come." 

Again  there  were  outbursts  of  applause  for  the 
Colonel.  "We  want  Teddy!"  "We  want  Teddy!" 
the  crowd  cried  again  and  again.  Men  ran  to  the 
stage  from  the  orchestra  seats  and  even  from  the 
second  balcony. 

'  '  Take  it,  Colonel.  You  ought  to  take  it, "  they 
urged. 

What  the  Colonel  answered  couldn't  be  heard 
but  the  jaw  was  working  and  the  head  was  shaking 
vigorously. 

A  couple  of  newspaper  men  dashed  up  to  him. 


62       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

"  You  oughtn't  to  take  it,  Colonel, "  one  of  them 
whispered.  "If  you  don't,  it  will  give  the  lie  to 
those  who  are  saying  the  Legion  is  being  conducted 
for  your  special  political  benefit." 

"I  haven't  the  slightest  intention  of  taking  it," 
he  answered  back. 

He  didn't  take  it  and  he  nailed  the  lie  that  the 
Legion  was  started  to  further  his  own  selfish 
ends. 

On  motion  of  Colonel  E.  Lester  Jones  of  the 
District  of  Columbia  the  nominations  were  re- 
opened again. 

Sergeant  Haines  of  Maine  put  up  the  name  of 
Colonel  Henry  D.  Lindsley,  a  banker  of  Dallas, 
Texas,  and  a  prominent  Southern  Democrat,  for 
permanent  chairman.  Think  of  it!  A  man  from 
Maine  nominating  a  Southern  Democrat !  One  of 
the  Ohio  delegation  seconded  the  nomination. 
Think  of  that  too!  Colonel  Claud  Birkhead  of 
San  Antonio,  Texas,  leader  of  the  Texas  delegation 
"thirded"  the  nomination.  He  told  Colonel 
Lindsley's  record.  The  Colonel  had  been  Mayor 
of  his  home  city,  and  during  the  war  had  served 
his  country  so  well  in  France  that  he  had  been 
awarded  the  Distinguished  Service  Medal.  He 
and  Major  Willard  Straight,  now  dead,  had  started 
the  War  Risk  Insurance  Bureau  abroad  and,  at  the 
time  of  the  caucus,  Colonel  Lindsley  was  the  head 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9.  and  10    63 

of  the  Bureau  under  the  Treasury  Department  in 
Washington. 

Minutes  of  a  meeting  usually  are  dry  but  here 
I  am  going  to  quote  directly  from  them  because 
they  tell  the  story  in  the  most  vivid  way.  Fancy 
between  the  lines,  please,  dozens  of  cheers,  a 
couple  of  rebel  yells,  a  great  deal  of  talking  and 
shouting  for  "T.  R. ! "  V  T.  R. ! "  and  a  Babelous 
babble  that  ebbed  or  flowed  according  to  the 
strength  Colonel  Roosevelt  used  in  wielding  his 
gavel. 

COLONEL  JONES  (of  Washington,  D.  C.): 
"Mr.  Chairman,  I  personally  feel,  and  I  think  I 
voice  the  unanimous  sentiment  of  this  organiza-. 
tion,  that  your  withdrawal  is  a  mistake.  We  are 
not  only  sincere,  but  we  are  telling  you  what  is  in 
the  bottom  of  our  hearts.  We  are  weighing  also 
the  sincerity  which  you  have  expressed,  and  in 
deference  to  your  wishes,  which  I  know  have  not 
arisen  spontaneously  but  which  you  have  talked 
about  for  some  time,  regarding  the  chairmanship 
of  this  committee,  I  think  we  should  not  embarrass 
you  further.  I  have  one  in  mind  who  I  feel  is 
going  to  be  a  man  who  will  do  credit  to  this 
organization— 

MR.  ABBOTT  (of  Ohio):  "Gentlemen  of  the 
caucus,  I  think  we  are  wasting  time  around  here. 
I  can't  see  why  we  can't  have  for  the  permanent 


64       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

chairman  of  this  convention  the  man  who  will  be 
elected  in  November." 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "Gentlemen,  can't  you  see 
how  it  is?  I  can't  possibly  change  my  convictions. 
I  can't  go  back  on  what  I  have  told  you  without 
everybody,  who  doesn't  understand  the  situation 
here,  feeling  that  I  have  just  come  out  here  to 
make  a  grandstand  play.  I  am  right.  I  am 
absolutely  sincere  and  right." 

A  motion  was  made  that  Colonel  Theodore 
Roosevelt  temporarily  yield  the  chair  to  Colonel 
Bennett  Clark. 

COLONEL  BENNETT  CLARK  :  ' '  It  is  very  evident 
what  the  desire  of  this  convention  is.  I  know 
that  Colonel  Lindsley  of  Texas  was  only  put  in 
nomination  in  response  to  the  express  wishes 
and  repeated  determination  of  Colonel  Roosevelt. 
I  think  that  Jthat  explanation  should  be  made  in 
justice  to  Colonel  Lindsley.  I  think  that  Colonel 
Roosevelt  should  take  this  chairmanship  or  if 
he  doesn't  want  to  take  it  he  should  be  made  to 
take  it.  (Applause.)  The  chair  will  recognize  a 
motion  to  that  effect." 

CAPTAIN  BOYCE  (of  New  York  shouting  to  a 
yelling  audience):  "What  is  the  use  of  our 
acting  like  a  lot  of  kids?  Just  one  minute;  only 
one  man  can  talk  at  a  time  and  get  anywhere. 
Colonel  Roosevelt  will  not  take  it." 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9,  and  10    65 

COLONEL  BENNETT  CLARK  :  "The  chair  will 
recognize  nobody  until  the  convention  is  in 
order.  It  has  been  moved  and  seconded  that 
Colonel  Roosevelt  be  elected  chairman  of  this 
convention  by  acclamation." 

Cries  of  approval  from  the  audience  and  a  re- 
quest for  the  question. 

COLONEL  BENNETT  CLARK:  "On  that  the 
chair  will  take  the  responsibility  of  ordering  a  roll 
call.  (Applause.)  The  Secretary  will  call  the 
roll." 

SECRETARY  WOOD:  "The  motion  is  that 
Colonel  Roosevelt  be  nominated  by  acclamation. 
The  chairman  has  directed  me  to  call  the  roll  by 
States.  Alabama 

A  call  for  a  point  of  order. 

DELEGATE:  "After  nominations  have  been 
made  and  closed  a  roll  call  cannot  be  taken." 

COLONEL  CLARK:  "The  chair  was  fully  aware 
that  he  was  proceeding  outside  of  parliamentary 
law  because  it  was  the  unanimous  wish  of  the 
convention." 

MR.  SULLIVAN:  "I  move  that  a  roll  call  be 
made  on  the  original  nominations." 

COLONEL  CLARK:  "Colonel  Roosevelt  has  ex- 
pressed to  me  his  absolute  desire  that  that  not  be 
done.  He  refuses  to  enter  into  a  contest  with 
Colonel  Lindsley  in  any  way." 


66      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

COLONEL  JONES  (Washington,  D.  C.):  "Mr. 
Chairman,  the  nominations  were  reopened." 

COLONEL  CLARK:  "The  chair  is  informed  that 
while  he  was  on  the  way  up  here  a  motion  was 
carried  to  reopen  nominations  after  the  resigna- 
tion of  Colonel  Roosevelt.  Now  nominations 
are  again  in  order. " 

MAJOR  SAMUEL  D.  ROYCE  (Indiana) :  "On  be- 
half of  the  State  of  Indiana,  I  nominate  Colonel 
Theodore  Roosevelt." 

The  motion  was  seconded. 

COLONEL  CLARK:  "The  gentleman  from  the 
District  of  Columbia  has  the  floor.  Others  please 
be  quiet." 

Here  I  must  inject  my  story  into  the  min- 
utes again.  Colonel  Roosevelt  saw  the  con- 
vention was  "getting  away  to  a  Roosevelt  finish" 
again,  to  use  a  racing  term,  and  he  sent  a  hurry 
call  to  the  Arizona  delegation  for  Colonel  Jack 
Greenway. 

Jack  Greenway  followed  the  elder  Roosevelt 
up  San  Juan  hill.  He  wears  underneath  his 
civilian  coat  to-day,  but  right  over  his  heart,  a 
Distinguished  Service  Cross  won  at  Cantigny. 

"Jack,  for  Heaven's  sake,  tell  them  I  won't  take 
it,"  Colonel  Roosevelt  plead. 

It  was  just  at  this  moment  that  Colonel  Clark, 
the  acting  chairman,  was  saying:  "The  gentle- 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9f  and  10    67 

man  from  the  District  of  Columbia  has  the  floor. 
Others  please  be  quiet.  .  .  ." 

Colonel  Jack  waving  one  arm  at  the  chairman 
and  another  at  the  audience  strode  to  the  center 
of  the  stage. 

The  minutes  read : 

COLONEL  JACK  GREENWAY:  "Will  you  give 
me  the  floor?  I  won't  keep  you  five  minutes. 

"My  name  is  Green  way  but  that  doesn't  mean 
anything  to  you.  Gentlemen,  Colonel  Roosevelt 
has  said  that  he  is  not  going  to  take  the  nomination 
of  the  caucus  and  you  can  take  it  from  me  that  he 
is  not  going  to  do  it.  Now  wait  a  minute.  Whoa ! 
Quit  yelling!  I  know  this  Roosevelt  outfit  and 
when  they  say  something  they  mean  it.  I  fol- 
lowed his  daddy  through  Cuba  and  I  know.  I 
saw  this  boy  in  the  first  division  at  Cantigny  and 
on  the  Toul  Front  and  I  know  that  he  means  he  is 
not  going  to  take  the  chairmanship  of  this  tem- 
porary caucus.  There  is  a  big  misunderstanding 
about  what  you  are  trying  to  do.  I  have  just 
talked  to  Colonel  Roosevelt  and  he  says  that  he 
will  not  be  a  candidate  for  the  temporary  caucus, 
but  if,  after  all  the  boys  come  home  at  the  conven- 
tion in  November,  it  is  still  the  desire  of  that 
body  as  a  whole,  he  will  give  the  matter  recon- 
sideration.' '  (Applause. ) 

Colonel  Roosevelt  resumes  the  chairmanship. 


68       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

THE  CHAIRMAN  :  "  Mr.  Lindsley,  the  gentleman 
of  Texas  is  in  nomination  for  chairman.  I  mean 
absolutely  what  I  say.  I  can't  do  it.  I  won't 
serve  if  elected.  What  you  have  done  will  always 
be  a  great  memory  to  my  family.  (Applause.) 
I  mean  that,  gentlemen!  I  mean  that!  Now  is 
there  anybody  else  you  want  to  put  in  nomination? 
I  absolutely  mean  that  for  the  good  of  the  cause; 
you  have  got  to  do  what  I  say  on  that. 

"Gentlemen,  I  believe  the  nominations  were 
reopened." 

Now  I  must  again  put  the  minutes  by  for  a 
moment,  for  Bill  has  come  to  the  stage  and  what 
he  says  doesn't  get  into  the  minutes,  although  I 
wish  his  remarks  were  there: 

"That  was  pretty  fine  in  him,"  Bill  said,  point- 
ing to  Colonel  Roosevelt.  I  nodded  only,  for 
somehow  this  whole  thing  had  got  to  me  pretty 
strong  and  I  felt  like  crying  for  some  unaccount- 
able reason. 

"And  then  he  gives  his  family  the  credit  for 
all  this  yelling,"  Bill  was  saying.  "We  like  his 
family  all  right,  but  say,  this  wasn't  to  compliment 
his  family,  not  by  a  darn  sight.  Why,  you  know 
that  young  Colonel's  got  a  h —  of  a  fine  record 
himself " 

But  somebody  within  an  inch  of  my  ear  was 
letting  out  a  warwhoop  for  Jack  Sullivan  who  had 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8f  9,  and  10    69 

just  been  nominated  for  permanent  chairman  and 
I  didn't  hear  the  last  of  Bill's  remark. 

Sergeant  Sullivan  got  up  and  tried  to  with- 
draw in  favor  of  Colonel  Lindsley,  and  Colonel 
Lindsley  did  the  same  thing  and  each  was  refused 
the  opportunity.  Colonel  Lindsley  then  took  the 
floor.  " Comrades,"  he  said,  "I  want  you  to 
know  that  I  came  here  for  one  man  for  the  chair- 
man of  this  caucus,  and  that  man  was  Theodore 
Roosevelt.  He  has  refused  it  absolutely.  I  ap- 
preciate the  support  that  has  been  given  to  my 
name.  If  honored  with  the  chairmanship  I  shall 
be  glad  to  serve,  but  it  is  important  that  we  get 
to  business  immediately.  I  am  certain  that  Mr. 
Sullivan  will  make  an  excellent  presiding  officer. 
If  I  had  the  right,  I  should  be  glad  to  withdraw 
my  name  in  his  favor.  But  the  point  is,  gentlemen, 
let's  get  to  business.  This  is  the  greatest  meeting 
that  has  ever  gathered  in  the  United  States,  and 
it  is  not  so  material  who  is  chairman  of  the  meeting 
as  it  is  to  proceed  to  business." 

While  the  roll  is  being  called  let's  glance  around 
the  theater  again.  Most  of  the  men  in  uniform 
are  enlisted  men.  It  is  difficult  to  tell  at  a  glance 
just  what  rank  or  rating  the  majority  of  those 
present  held  in  the  army  or  navy  because  in 
civilian  clothing  the  officer  and  the  man  are 
indistinguishable.  I  mean  to  say  that  our  army 


70      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

was  different  from  most  other  military  establish- 
ments. Being  primarily  a  citizen  affair  it  was 
really  representative.  It  was  the  desire  of  the  tem- 
porary committee  that  sixty  per  cent,  of  the 
delegates  should  be  enlisted  men  and  when  the 
call  for  the  caucus  was  issued  that  was  set  forth 
most  plainly.  No  one  seems  to  have  taken  the 
trouble  to  check  the  thing  up  at  the  caucus. 
Anyone  desiring  to  do  so  can  find  the  information 
in  this  volume.  I  was  interested  at  the  opening 
of  the  caucus  to  know  just  what  the  percentage 
was,  but  after  it  got  into  swing  it  didn't  make  any 
difference.  No  one  cared.  There  was  talk  (among 
officers)  of  making  an  enlisted  man  permanent 
chairman.  The  only  persons  that  I  heard  object- 
ing to  such  a  procedure  were  the  enlisted  men 
themselves. 

"We've  forgotten  all  that  stuff  about  rank. 
If  the  officers  insist  on  an  enlisted  man  they'll 
make  a  mistake.  We  want  the  best  man  and 
because  we're  in  the  majority  in  the  organization 
we  don't  want  to  discriminate  against  the  officer. 
Taken  as  a  whole,  he  was  a  mighty  fine  sort." 

This  from  Sergeant  Laverne  Collier  of  the 
Idaho  delegation  when  I  asked  him  what  he 
thought  of  the  enlisted  man  idea.  While  we  were 
talking  about  it  the  vote  was  being  cast  on  Lind- 
sley  and  Sullivan.  As  if  to  reecho  Collier's  senti- 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8f  9,  and  10    71 

ments,  Sullivan  got  up  and  demanded  that  Lind- 
sley's  election  should  be  made  unanimous,  and  so  it 
was. 

Colonel  Roosevelt  promptly  put  Sullivan's 
name  in  nomination  for  vice-chairman.  Mr. 
Abbott  of  Ohio  seconded  it  and  further  moved  that 
the  sergeant's  election  be  made  unanimous. 
Sergeant  Jack  Sullivan  was  elected  by  acclama- 
tion. Then  Colonel  Wood  was  chosen  secretary, 
the  rules  of  the  House  of  Representatives  were 
decided  upon  to  govern  the  procedure,  and  debate 
was  limited  to  five  minutes. 

Insistence  on  that  point  was  unnecessary.  Our 
new  American  back  from  the  wars  has  been  too 
accustomed  to  action  to  like  words  that  aren't 
concise  and  aimed  right  at  the  heart  of  the  point. 
There  was  a  good  deal  of  noise  and  talk  at  this 
particular  juncture  and  someone  moved  the 
appointment  of  a  sergeant  at  arms.  Captain  A. 
L.  Boyce  of  Boyce's  Tigers  (those  young  men 
who  drilled  so  persistently  in  Central  Park  in 
New  York  preparing  for  the  war)  was  picked. 
While  this  guardian  of  the  peace  was  being  ap- 
pointed at  least  five  gentlemen  from  as  many 
delegations  started  to  speak  at  once,  perhaps 
against  the  five-minute  debate  rule,  and  in  the 
confusion  a  delegate,  whom  Checkers  might  have 
described  as  carrying  a  load  he  should  have 


72       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

made  three  trips  with,  took  the  platform  and 
began  something  that  sounded  about  as  intelli- 
gible as  Cicero's  oration  against  Catiline  in  the 
original. 

"Do  I  understand,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  a  ser- 
geant at  arms  has  been  appointed?'*  shouted  Mr. 
J.  L.  Walsh  of  the  Pennsylvania  delegation. 

"That's  right,"  answered  the  chairman. 

"Then  let's  have  him  get  busy,"  rejoined  Mr. 
Walsh.  "We  didn't  come  down  here  for  a  vaude- 
ville show  or  to  be  entertained  by  some  boob, 
because  we've  got  boobs  back  home." 

After  this  remark,  the  minutes  read  "Laughter 
and  applause"  but  that  doesn't  half  describe  it. 

Captain  Boyce  "got  busy"  and  if  the  minutes 
could  record  the  result  of  his  actions  they  would 
probably  read  "Order  restored — almost.  Quieter, 
for  a  time." 

Colonel  Lindsley  made  a  splendid  presiding 
officer.  None  could  have  done  better,  but  as  the 
stenographer  who  took  the  minutes  remarked 
(and  she  was  convention-worn  because  she  had 
attended  so  many) :  "This  is  the  funnest  meeting 
I  ever  wrote  up."  Right.  It  was  the  funniest 
meeting — funny  being  used  in  the  sense  of  unusual 
as  the  stenographer  meant  it — that  anyone  ever 
saw.  In  fact  it  was  unique;  absolutely  the  only 
one  of  its  kind.  Because  the  delegates  were 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9,  and  10    73 

unique.  There  never  was  anything  like  them 
in  all  the  history  of  the  country.  They  had  gone 
into  training  camps  like  Bill,  very  tired,  anaemic, 
with  a  shop  and  office  pallor;  and  they  came  out 
of  the  war  like  Bill, — new,  virile,  interested, 
placing  a  value  on  themselves  which  would  have 
been  unthinkable  prior  to  April  6,  1917. 

But  they  placed  a  greater  value  on  this  organi- 
zation which  was  so  near  the  heart  of  all  of  them. 
No  better  proof  of  it  can  be  shown  than  the  inci- 
dent which  has  just  been  described,  viz.,  the  re- 
fusal of  Theodore  Roosevelt  to  be  the  permanent 
chairman.  Although  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  able 
to  explain  the  processes  of  thought  and  reasoning 
which  led  Colonel  Roosevelt  to  take  the  action  he 
did,  still  I  do  know  this  much!  There  are  very 
few  young  men  who  would  have  been  so  deaf  to 
the  plaudits  of  the  multitude,  to  the  advice  of  old 
friends  and  to  the  still  small  voice  of  personal 
ambition  as  he  was  in  refusing.  I  maintain  that 
this  refusal  was  by  no  means  altogether  prompted 
by  anything  of  an  hereditary  nature  but,  rather, 
by  the  experiences  and  environment  which  had 
been  Colonel  Roosevelt's  during  the  war.  It 
took  more  than  an  under- slung  jaw  and  a  rugged 
Rooseveltian  determination  to  refuse  this  great 
honor.  It  took  discipline,  and  Colonel  Roosevelt 
knew  how  to  inflict  that  upon  himself  just  as  he 


74      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

did  upon  his  troops  whenever  it  was  wise  and 
necessary. 

In  much  smaller,  but  no  less  important  mat- 
ters, did  I  see  other  men  practice  discipline  upon 
themselves.  I  saw  men  forego  the  discussion  of 
subjects  in  which  they  believed  with  all  their 
hearts  and  with  all  their  minds  solely  for  the 
purpose  of  doing  nothing  that  would  tend  to  dis- 
rupt the  Caucus  or  give  the  impression  through- 
out the  United  States  that  the  men  who  had  stuck 
together  so  closely  in  times  of  daring  and  danger 
could  not  still  stick  and  face,  as  a  band  of  brothers 
in  the  American  Legion,  any  perils  or  pitfalls  which 
peace  might  hold  for  this  country.  Therefore,  it 
seems  to  me  that  Colonel  Roosevelt's  action  was 
more  than  a  manifestation  of  his  own  sterling 
determination  to  do  nothing  which  might  hurt 
the  Legion.  It  was  archtypical. 

Major  Hamilton  Fish  of  New  York  called 
attention  to  the  fact  that  the  navy  was  un- 
represented in  the  offices  of  the  caucus  and  moved 
that  a  second  vice-chairman  should  be  appointed 
from  that  branch  of  the  service.  A  delegate 
from  Missouri  seconded  the  motion  and  amended 
it  to  read  that  a  third  vice-chairman  should  be 
appointed  from  the  marine  corps. 

During  the  election  of  these  officers  enthusiasm 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9,  and  10    75 

reached  a  high  pitch  and  in  no  more  striking 
manner  did  the  new  American  reveal  his  new 
character. 

"  Gentlemen, "  said  one  dignified  delegate  (I 
don't  know  who  let  him  in,  because  just  from 
the  way  he  said  "  gentlemen "  we  all  knew 
that  once  in  his  life  he  had  practiced  oratory 
before  the  bureau  mirror),  "I  want  to  place 
in  nomination  the  name  of  a  man  who  is  true 
blue " 

"Name  him,"  shouted  the  crowd. 

"He  is  not  only  true  blue  but  he  is  thoroughly 
everything  he  ought  to  be  in  addition — "  con- 
tinued the  orator,  coldly  trying  to  squelch  the 
crowd. 

"Name  him."  "Shut  up."  "Aw,  sit  down." 
"Who  wants  to  listen  to  such  '  bull '  as  that?" 

Each  of  those  sentences  was  roared  by  a  different 
man. 

"This  gentleman  is  one  of  whom  I  am  sure  you 
will  be  proud — "  persisted  the  orator,  but  at  this 
direct  violation  of  its  edict  the  crowd  began  to 
scream  its  maledictions  and  Captain  Boyce  could 
not  have  stopped  them  with  all  his  Tigers  if  the 
gentleman  orator  hadn't  taken  his  seat  in  a  most 
dignified  manner,  never  to  rise  again — doubtless 
as  a  rebuke  for  the  gang,  but  one  which  was  thor- 
oughly appreciated. 


76       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Thus  the  way  of  orators  in  the  caucus ! 

The  navy  men  who  were  nominated  consisted 
of  Goerke  of  New  York;  Goldberg,  Illinois;  Cheno- 
weth,  Alabama;  Almon,  Montana;  Humphrey, 
New  Mexico;  McGrath,  New  Jersey;  and  Evans 
of  Kentucky.  The  secretary  took  the  vote  by 
delegations.  When  Goerke  got  a  vote  the  New 

did  the  same  for  Humphrey;  Alabama  cheered 
like  mad  for  Chenoweth  and  it  wasn't  long  before 
everybody  picked  out  his  candidate  and  yelled 
furiously  every  time  he  got  a  vote.  The  New 
Mexico  delegation  occupied  a  proscenium  box  but 
Humphrey  wasn't  prominent  enough  there  to  suit 
his  delegation.  Before  anyone  thoroughly  realized 
what  was  happening,  Seaman  Humphrey  appeared 
on  the  stage,  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  two  colonels ! 
Two  men  who  had  eagles  on  their  shoulders,  U.  S.  on 
their  collars,  and  gold  chevrons  on  their  left  sleeves 
carried  on  their  shoulders  a  "gob,"  a  sailorman, 
a  deck-swabbing  bluejacket,  as  he  called  himself. 

It  was  the  beginning  of  a  cavalcade  of  noise 
that  fairly  made  ear  drums  ache,  and,  incidentally, 
proved  a  signal  for  the  backers  of  other  candi- 
dates. Goerke  soon  was  lifted  aloft  by  a  half 
dozen  New  Yorkers;  Chenoweth  was  exhibited 
to  the  general  view  from  the  section  of  the  or- 
chestra occupied  by  his  delegation,  while  Illinois 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9,  and  10    77 

paraded  up  and  down  the  aisles  with  Goldberg. 
Colonel  Lindsley  hammered  the  speaker's  table 
almost  to  pieces  in  an  attempt  to  get  order  and 
then  gave  it  up  for  a  few  minutes  as  a  bad  job. 
Captain  Boyce  succeeded  in  getting  a  semblance  of 
it,  when  everybody  got  tired  of  carrying  the  candi- 
dates and  of  shouting.  Then  the  secretary  again 
started  taking  the  vote  by  delegations.  No  one 
of  the  candidates  received  a  majority  of  the  votes 
which  was  necessary  under  the  procedure  adopted  at 
the  beginning  of  the  caucus.  Then  began  the  with- 
drawals. This  State  withdrew  its  vote  from  Goerke 
and  cast  it  for  Humphrey;  Chenoweth  withdrew 
from  the  race  and  his  vote  went  to  Goerke,  et  cet- 
era. A  similar  situation  resulted  on  the  second 
count  and  finally  Goerke  withdrew  in  favor  of 
Humphrey.  When  Evans  took  the  same  action, 
Humphrey  (first  name  Fred),  described  as  the 
"rough-riding  sailor  from  New  Mexico/'  was 
elected. 

Humphrey's  speech  of  acceptance  delighted  the 
hearts  of  those  who  had  forced  the  would-be  orator 
to  sit  down  at  the  beginning  of  the  nominations. 

"Mr.  Chairman,  gobs,  soldiers,  and  marines, " 
Humphrey  said:  "I  am  most  glad  and  gracious 
to  accept  this  honorary  position  and  I  will  do 
everything  that  a  deck-swabbing  sailorman  can 
do  to  fill  it." 


78      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

The  first  day's  session  closed  with  the  appoint- 
ment by  the  various  States  of  representatives  on 
the  following  committees:  Executive  Committee; 
Credentials;  Temporary  Name  of  Organization; 
Organization;  Resolutions;  Constitution  and  By- 
Laws  and  Declaration  of  Principles;  Next  Meeting 
Place  and  Time;  Publication;  Emblem;  Permanent 
Headquarters,  and  Finance. 

The  personnel  of  these  committees  will  be  found 
elsewhere. 

Thursday  evening  and  Friday  morning  were 
devoted  largely  to  committee  meetings  and 
different  sections  of  the  country  came  together  to 
discuss  matters  of  particular  interest  to  special 
localities.  For  instance,  the  Western  delegations 
discussed  the  question  of  Bolshevism,  because  the 
symptoms  of  this  mad  disease  had  been  more  ap- 
parent in  that  section  of  the  country  than  in  any 
other.  The  question  of  color  was  practically  decided 
in  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  was 
ratified  later  by  various  delegations  representing 
the  Southern  States.  Everybody  was  pleased.  An 
attempt  was  made  by  the  leaders  of  each  delegation 
to  keep  such  questions  as  might  be  "loaded  with 
dynamite"  off  the  actual  floor  of  the  caucus  so  that 
those  lacking  in  discretion  might  not  have  the 
opportunity  to  throw  the  caucus  into  an  uproar. 


The  St.  Louis  Caucus,  May  8,  9,  and  10 


79 


In  fact  it  was  this  spirit — the  desire  on  every- 
body's part  to  give  in  to  a  certain  extent  on  any 
mooted  question  for  the  sake  of  general  harmony 
that  was  a  marked  feature  of  the  gathering.  In 
the  committee  meetings  were  found  delegates 
with  radically  different  opinions  on  almost  every 
question.  It  was  not  an  uncommon  thing,  how- 
ever, to  see  a  delegate  very  heatedly  advocate  a 
certain  side  of  an  issue;  listen  to  the  opposing  side, 
rise,  and  with  equal  heat  and  fervency  advocate 
the  opposite  point  of  view. 

This  spirit  is  highly  significant.  It  will  be  one 
of  the  Legion's  greatest  powers.  It  was  and  is 
due  to  the  fact  that  these  new  Americans  are 
not  cursed  with  fixed  ideas.  They  have  seen  too 
much,  lived  through  too  much  in  their  com- 
paratively short  lives  to  be  nairow-minded. 
Over  in  the  A.  E.  F.  the  former  hod-carrier  often 
turned  out  to  be  too  good  as  a  construction  man- 
ager for  any  officer  to  despise  his  opinions.  One 
noticeable  characteristic  of  the  American  Legion 
delegate  was  the  respect  which  he  had  for  the 
other  man's  views  and  his  willingness  to  admit 
outright  that  he  was  wrong  in  a  thing  or  to  go  at 
least  halfway  with  the  opponent  of  his  particular 
ideas.  This  was  the  saving  grace  of  the  caucus 
and  this  will  be  the  saving  grace  of  the  Legion  for 
the  spirit  which  was  manifested  there  is  the  spirit 


8o       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

which  will  prevail  at  Minneapolis,  and  for  always, 
because  the  American  sailor  and  soldier  will  not 
change. 

It  was  interesting  to  see  these  modern  American 
soldiers  side  by  side  with  the  veterans  of  the 
Civil  War.  The  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
Post,  the  local  Bivouac  of  the  United  Confederate 
Veterans,  and  the  Spanish  War  Veterans  gave  a 
joint  reception  for  the  delegates  at  the  Missouri 
Athletic  Club  which  included  a  smoker  and  a 
vaudeville  entertainment  furnished  by  the  War 
Camp  Community  Service. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  LEGION   AND   THE   BOLSHEVIKI 

THE  second  session  of  the  caucus  began  at  half 
past  two  o'clock  Friday  afternoon.  Like  its  pre- 
decessor it  started  with  a  bang.  Nominations 
were  made  for  the  third  vice-chairman  who  was 
to  be  selected  from  the  marine  corps.  The  first 
nomination  was  a  wounded  man,  at  the  time  in 
the  Walter  Reed  Hospital  at  Washington  and  who 
had  won  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross  at 
Chateau-Thierry.  Then  came  the  name  of  Ser- 
geant Woolley  of  Utah,  quickly  followed  by  the 
name  of  P.  C.  Calhoun  of  Connecticut,  put  up 
by  Mr.  Black  of  Louisiana;  the  name  of  Major 
Leonard  of  the  District  of  Columbia  also  was  put 
in  nomination  and  then  the  slate  was  closed. 

True  to  the  spirit  of  the  previous  meeting  the 
caucus  was  soon  in  an  uproar  of  applause  for  each 
of  the  four  candidates,  three  of  whom  were  marched 
to  the  stage.  Calhoun  was  elected,  with  the 
result  that  his  ardent  brother  delegates  from 
Connecticut  treated  him  like  a  football  hero  by 

6  81 


82       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

placing  him  on  their  shoulders  and  performing  a 
snake  dance.  Marines  are  no  more  garrulous 
than  sailor  men,  for  Calhoun's  speech  of  accep- 
tance was  just  about  as  long  as  Humphrey's. 
While  Calhoun  was  being  bombed  by  flashlight 
cameras  Mr.  Smoot  of  Utah  moved  that  a  vote 
of  thanks  should  be  tendered  to  Colonel  Roosevelt 
and  other  Legion  members  who  had  been  active 
in  the  preliminary  work  which  insured  the  success 
of  the  caucus  and  this  was  seconded  by  Major 
Wickersham  of  New  York.  One  of  the  most  rous- 
ing ayes  of  the  entire  caucus  carried  the  motion. 

Cries  of  "  speech "  brought  Colonel  Roosevelt 
before  the  footlights.  His  remarks  were  just 
about  as  long  as  Humphrey's  and  Calhoun's. 
To  be  specific  he  said:  "Gentlemen,  it  is  going 
to  be  a  short  speech  because  I  think  we  have  got  a 
lot  of  business  to  do.  Thank  you." 

Just  about  this  time  the  committee  reports 
began  to  come  in,  the  first  of  which,  that  of  the 
Credential  Committee,  brought  the  question  of 
Bolshevism  to  the  floor  of  the  caucus.  The 
report  read  as  follows : 

"We  recommend  that  all  delegates  to  the 
American  Legion  selected  and  now  functioning 
from  the  various  States,  districts,  and  territories, 
be  seated  and  accredited  with  full  vote,  and  that 
all  organizations  organized  and  having  delegates 


The  Legion  and  the  Bolsheviki  83 

here  be  allowed  one  vote  with  the  exception  of 
the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Council,  which  delegation 
the  Credential  Committee  recommends  shall  be 
excluded  from  the  caucus/' 

S.  H.  Curtin,  the  representative  of  the  Soldiers 
and  Sailors  Council  of  Seattle,  pending  the  action 
of  the  Credential  Committee,  had  been  accorded  a 
vote  at  the  previous  session  on  all  questions  that 
came  up  before  it.  The  fact  that  Colonel  Wood, 
the  Secretary,  took  this  action  was  in  line  with  the 
general  spirit  of  fair  play,  which  was  the  keynote 
of  the  caucus.  The  Credential  Committee's  report 
elicited  shouts  of  approval.  Chairman  Lindsley 
after  bringing  the  house  to  order  again  said : 

"I  understand  that  the  delegate  from  the 
Soldiers  and  Sailors  Council  is  here  and  asks  to  be 
heard.  Gentlemen,  the  members  of  the  Commit- 
tee, I  assume,  had  full  knowledge  of  facts  which 
warranted  that  report,  but  there  are  men  here  who 
have  not  that  knowledge.  Shall  we  hear  him  ? ' ' 

This  statement  aroused  mixed  emotions  but 
Mr.  Curtin  came  to  the  platform.  Word  having 
spread  through  the  theater  that  he  represented 
the  "real  Bolshevik  outfit "  in  Seattle,  a  great 
many  of  the  delegates  began  to  hoot,  jeer,  and 
make  cat  calls. 

"Give  me  a  square  deal,  give  me  a  hearing," 
Curtin  shouted. 


84       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

"Give  the  man  a  hearing/'  echoed  Colonel 
Roosevelt,  who  sat  with  the  New  York  delegation. 
"Yes,  give  him  a  hearing,'*  shouted  the  majority 
of  the  delegates  and  when  the  chair  had  procured 
order,  Curtin  made  his  plea. 

"I  wish  to  say,  by  way  of  introduction,  that 
though  I  come  from  the  State  of  Washington,  I 
am  not  a  member  of  the  Washington  Delegation/' 
he  said,  ' '  I  say  that  out  of  deference  to  the  mem- 
bers from  that  State  for  the  reason  that  I  wish 
to  prejudice  nobody  here  against  the  Washington 
Delegation.  I  am  not  an  I.  W.  W.  I  never  have 
been  and  I  never  intend  to  be.  I  never  have 
shown  any  Bolshevik  tendency  and  I  defy  any 
man  present  to  prove  to  the  contrary.  If  you've 
got  proof  that  Sherman  H.  Curtin  ever  was  an 
I.  W.  W.  or  made  a  Bolshevik  statement,  say  so?" 
He  paused  here  but  none  answered  him  to  the 
contrary. 

"It  is  true  that  the  organization  which  I  re- 
present has  had  in  the  past  some  I.  W.  W.'s,  and 
it  is  true  that  there  are  some  I.  W.  W.'s  in  it  now," 
he  continued;  "but  I  am  in  that  organization  for 
the  purpose  of  throwing  those  I.  W.  W.'s  out. 
I  got  in  there  for  the  purpose  of  kicking  them  out 
and  I  want  your  help. " 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  applause. 

"At  the   present   time,  we  (when  I  say  we,  I 


The  Legion  and  the  Bolshevik!  85 

mean  the  particular  conservative  element  which 
I  represent  in  that  organization)  have  control  of 
the  Board  and  practically  all  except  one  office 
of  the  organization.  We  are  doing  everything  in 
our  power  to  make  that  a  one  hundred  per  cent. 
American  organization,  and  one  of  the  things  that 
I  came  down  here  for  was  to  see  that  the  Legion 
had  in  its  constitution  as  a  preamble  that  we 
pledge  ourselves  to  the  principles  of  democracy 
as  set  forth  in  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

"I,  personally,  was  the  man  who  rewrote  the 
constitution  of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Council. 
It  was  written  wrong  when  I  got  in  there  so  I 
changed  it.  I  want  you  men  to  stand  behind  me 
and  help  me  make  this  fight.  My  organization 
did  not  give  me  permission  to  come  here  and 
join  this,  just  as  I  presume  some  of  your  organiza- 
tions did  not  give  you  permission,  for  the  reason 
that  they  did  not  know  what  this  was  going  to  be ; 
but  I  can  see  from  the  spirit  that  this  organization 
has,  that  so  far,  it  is  on  the  right  path  and  I  am 
with  it  and  I  want  you  with  me. 

"I  am  already  only  and  wholly  for  the  purpose 
of  doing  what  good  we  can  for  the  elimination  of  I. 
W.  W.'s  and  Bolsheviki.  If  you  are  against  that,  I 
am  with  you  and  if  you  are  with  me,  I  am  with  you. ' ' 

George  Pratt  of  Louisiana  rose. 


86       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

"With  your  permission/'  he  said  to  the  chair- 
man, "I  would  like  to  ask  the  gentleman  one 
question. "  ' '  Sir, ' '  turning  to  Curtin,  "  is  it  or  is  it 
not  true  that  you  re-wrote  the  constitution  now 
in  effect  for  your  organization,  and  is  it  not  true 
that  it  is  so  worded  that  American  Army  and 
Naval  officers  or  former  army  and  navy  and 
marine  officers  of  the  United  States  are  not 
eligible?  Is  that  true?" 

"I  will  answer  that  question  and  I  will  answer 
it  in  a  fair  way,"  Mr.  Curtin  replied. 

"Say  yes  or  no.  Is  it  true?"  Mr.  Pratt  de- 
manded. 

"Yes,"  shouted  the  crowd.  "Say  yes  or  no. 
Is  it  true?" 

Then  pandemonium  broke  loose  in  the  meeting. 
The  cat  calls  and  boos  were  renewed.  "Put  him 
out!"  "Put  him  out!"  "Shut  him  up!"  the 
crowd  demanded.  And  here  I  want  to  pause  a 
moment  to  say  that  the  enlisted  men  present  gave 
a  mighty  concrete  sign  of  the  approval  of  their 
officers  by  this  denunciation  of  the  constitution 
of  Curtin's  outfit. 

"I  am  not  here  for  the  purpose  of  being  per- 
secuted, "  Mr.  Curtin  shouted.  "I  am  not  asking 
no  or  yes  to  anything.  But  I  will  say  to  the 
gentleman  who  questioned  me  that  while  it  is  true 
in  letter  it  is  not  true  in  spirit." 


The  Legion  and  the  Bolshevik!  87 

At  this  juncture  Mr.  Simon,  of  the  Washington 
delegation,  said  that  in  all  fairness  to  Sergeant 
Curtin  he  wanted  to  say  that  during  the  recent 
demonstration  of  Bolshevism  in  Seattle,  Curtin 
commanded  a  machine  gun  company  on  the  side 
of  right  and  law  and  order. 

"I  do  not  speak  for  his  organization,"  Simon 
said,  "but  I  speak  for  a  clique  in  it,  headed  by 
Sergeant  Curtin,  who  went  into  that  organization 
to  clean  it  up,  to  make  it  a  fair  and  square  one 
hundred  per  cent.  American  organization. ' '  The  ap- 
plause of  Simon's  remarks  had  scarcely  died  down 
when  General  Moss  succeeded  in  gaining  the  floor. 

"I  want  to  say  to  the  members  of  this  delega- 
tion, "  he  said,  "that  I  led  the  fight  against  the 
soldiers1  and  sailors'  organization  before  the 
Credential  Committee,  and  I  want  to  say  to  you 
gentlemen  that  we  didn't  lead  a  fight  personally 
against  this  man,  but  against  his  organization. 
We  know  the  outfit  in  our  country  and  we  do  not 
want  that  organization  in  unless  the  Americans  in 
it  come  in  as  individuals.  I  want  to  say  that  we 
are  to  be  organized  here  on  a  basis  of  one  hundred 
per  cent,  true  Americanism. 

"  I  asked  Curtin  in  the  presence  of  the  com- 
mittee if  he  represented  a  minority  or  a  majority 
in  his  outfit  and  he  admitted  that  he  represented 
the  mironity." 


88       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


we  can  lick  a  majority,  "  Curtin  shouted 
back.  "I  want  Captain  McDonald  who  had 
charge  of  the  Intelligence  Department  at  Camp 
Lewis  to  say  a  word  on  this  subject.  He  knows 
the  history  of  my  organization  and  I  would  like 
to  have  him  give  it  to  you.  '  '  But  if  Curtin  counted 
on  McDonald  to  help  him  he  reckoned  without 
his  host. 

Captain  McDonald  rose  and  speaking  with 
great  deliberation  said  : 

"I  have  been  an  American  soldier  for  thirty 
years.  I  was  a  regular  telegraph  officer  at  the 
time  of  the  Bolshevik  trouble.  I  established 
stations  at  Seattle  and  Camp  Lewis  and  this  man 
represents  the  real  element  that  we  are  all  working 
against.  Personally  he  is  all  right  but  he  is  backing 
that  organization  because  he  wants  to  represent  it. 
If  he  desires  to  be  admitted  into  the  Legion  let  him 
get  loose  from  that  outfit  and  come  in  by  himself/' 

Captain  McDonald's  statement  was  greeted 
with  enthusiasm. 

"Are  you  ready  for  the  question  ?"  demanded 
the  chairman. 

The  caucus  certainly  was. 

"Those  favoring  the  adoption  of  the  credentials 
report  vote  aye,  "  he  cried. 

That  aye  could  almost  have  been  heard  in 
Seattle  itself. 


The  Legion  and  the  Bolsheviki  89 

That  aye  answered  the  question  of  what  the 
American  soldier  thinks  of  Bolshevism  or  anything 
tainted  with  it.  That  aye  answered  the  lying 
statement  that  our  troops  abroad  had  been  in- 
oculated with  the  germ  of  the  world's  greatest 
mental  madness. 

That  aye  marked  the  distinction  between  a 
grouch  caused  by  a  cootie-lined  bunk  .and  a 
desire  to  place  a  bomb  under  the  Capitol  at 
Washington. 

I  have  intimated  that  the  chief  aim  of  each 
delegate  was  to  see  that  no  one  "put  anything 
over  "  at  this  caucus.  I  think  that  the  only  other 
determination  which  might  rival  that  in  intensity 
was  most  apparent  at  the  mention  of  anything 
that  pertained  to  or  bordered  on  Bolshevism. 
This  incident  of  ousting  Curtin's  organization  was 
not  the  only  manifestation  of  it  by  any  means, 
although  it  was  perhaps  the  most  striking  on  the 
floor  of  the  caucus.  But,  outside  the  caucus,  in 
the  hotel  lobbies,  and  in  the  various  committee 
rooms,  whenever  the  subject  came  up  these  sol- 
dier and  sailor  men,  in  almost  every  instance,  got 
mad — damn  mad. 

'The  trouble  with  these  people  who  talk  Bol- 
shevism is  that  they  don't  know  anything  about 
our  country, "  I  heard  one  of  them  say. 

Another  quickly  interrupted  him  with,  "The  big 


90       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

thing  the  Legion's  got  to  teach  is  Americanism  and 
let  those  crack-brained  fools  know  just  what  this 
country  stands  for. ' '  While  still  another  injected, 
"The  average  'long-beard1  has  been  so  crazed  by 
persecution  in  Russia  that  he  would  mistake  Pea- 
cock Alley  in  the  Waldorf-Astoria  in  New  York 
for  a  Siberian  coal  mine. " 

This  last  remark  brought  forth  a  laugh,  and 
though  it  was  whimsically  made  it  illuminated 
the  matter  under  discussion  very  well,  I  thought. 
In  fact,  the  whole  conversation  made  clear  to  me 
one  of  the  fundamental  missions  the  Legion  must 
perform. 

The  seeds  of  Americanism  which  Legion  mem- 
bers sow  to-day  will  be  reaped,  not  only  to-day  but 
in  the  generations  of  to-morrow.  The  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  Council,  Seattle,  was  thrown  out  and  its  rep- 
resentative knew  why.  But,  if  Jack  Sullivan  and 
his  red,  white,  and  blue  colleagues  in  the  State  of 
Washington  preach  in  the  future  what  they  did  at 

this  caucus,  the  children  of  those  northwestern 

i 

Bolsheviki  will  not  only  salute  the  Stars  and 
Stripes,  but  will  know  why  they  do  so.  They  will 
know  what  their  fathers  don't — that  the  constitu- 
tion means  Americanism  and  that  Americanism 
means  "life,  liberty,  and  pursuit  of  happiness. " 

In  most  conventions  the  reports  of  committees 
are  invariably  adopted.  There  are  many  reasons 


The  Legion  and  the  Bolshevik!  91 

for  this,  the  particular  one  being  the  theory  that 
when  a  set  of  men  are  placed  on  a  task  they  will 
study  the  situation  in  all  its  angles,  in  all  its 
ramifications,  in  all  its  different  phases  and  that  its 
report  should  therefore  be  adopted  because  of  this 
expert  thought  and  study  on  the  matters  under 
consideration.  I  say  that  most  conventions  do 
this.  Once  as  a  newspaper  man,  I  attended  an  un- 
dertakers' convention.  It  always  did  so.  And  at 
another  time  I  attended  a  manufacturers'  gathering 
where  this  procedure  was  invariably  followed  out. 
But  how  about  at  St.  Louis?  Not  on  your  life! 
The  delegates  of  the  American  Legion  were  neither 
like  undertakers  nor  manufacturers  nor  like  any- 
other  business  men  that  I  ever  saw  during  ten  years 
on  a  Metropolitan  newspaper.  The  new  American 
doesn't  do  business  that  way. 

Witness  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Name. 
This  report  read:  "We,  your  Committee  on 
Name,  unanimously  make  the  following  recom- 
mendation— that  the  name  of  this  organization  be 
the  American  Legion  of  World  War  Veterans." 
The  chairman  had  scarcely  finished  asking:  "What 
is  your  pleasure  gentlemen"  when  Major  Wicker- 
sham  got  the  floor  and  moved  an  amendment  that 
the  name  be  "The  American  Legion."  This  was 
seconded  by  Mr.  Cochrane  of  Ohio  and  then  came 
the  argument  about  it. 


92       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Mr.  Shank  of  Ohio,  thought  that  the  American 
Legion  did  not  convey  a  sufficient  meaning  to  the 
average  civilians.  "The  American  Legion  might 
be  an  organization  of  street  cleaners,  it  doesn't 
signify  soldiers.  It  isn't  comprehensive  enough, " 
he  said.  Mr.  Larry  of  Florida  countered  with, 
"Go  ahead  and  call  it  American  Legion,  we  will 
soon  show  them  what  it  means." 

Mr.  Walsh  of  Pennsylvania,  suggested  that  the 
A.  E.  F.  knew  what  it  was  doing  when  they  called 
it  the  American  Legion.  "Let  us  honor  them  and 
respect  them  by  calling  it  the  American  Legion," 
he  urged.  Colonel  E.  Lester  Jones,  of  Washington, 
stated  the  name  had  been  considered  by  the  com- 
mittee most  carefully  and 

But  why  go  into  all  the  arguments.  The  motion 
to  call  it  the  American  Legion  was  carried  amid 
cheering  and  as  such  the  name  will  go  down  into 
the  history  of  things  well  done  for  America. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  LEGION  WON'T  MEET  AT  CHICAGO 

WE  have  arrived  at  what  is  the  most  significant 
event  of  this  session  of  the  caucus,  if  not  of  the 
entire  gathering.  The  caucus  has  already  shown 
its  spirit  in  ousting  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Council 
because,  in  its  opinion,  it  could  not  measure  up  to 
one  hundred  per  cent.  Americanism,  and  now  we 
shall  see  what  the  same  simon-pure  brand  of  red, 
white,  and  blueism  is  demanded  of  the  second 
largest  city  in  the  United  States. 

It  came  about  in  the  most  dry,  matter-of-fact 
way.  Let  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  form  the 
introduction  for  it. 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "Next  is  the  report  of  the 
Committee  on  the  Next  Meeting  Place  and  Time." 

SECRETARY  WOOD  (reading) :  "From  the  Com- 
mittee on  Next  Meeting  Place  and  Time,  to  the 
Chairman  of  the  American  Legion ;  action  of  the 
Committee. 

"Meeting  called  to  order  at  10:30  A.M.  this  day 
at  the  Shubert  Jefferson  Theater. 

93 


94      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

1  'Charles  S.  Caldwell,  of  New  Mexico,  unani- 
mously elected  chairman. 

"Frank  M.  Ladd,  Jr.,  of  Alabama,  Secretary. 
"The  majority  of  the  States  being  represented 
as  per  attached  list  voted  unanimously  for  Chi- 
cago as  next  meeting  place.     Date  being  set  as 
November  10,  n,  and  12,  1919. 

"Respectfully  submitted, 
"CHARLES  S.  CALDWELL,  Chairman, 
"FRANK  M.  LADD,  JR.,  Secretary." 

MR.  SEXTON  (of  Illinois):  "When  you  consider 
your  place  for  your  next  convention  tell  Chicago 
what  you  want,  and  in  response  to  that  Chicago 
will  answer  you.  'We  will  give  you  whatever 
you  want/' 

Then  the  excitement  started.  Mr.  Dietrick 
of  Pennsylvania  moved  to  amend  the  report  of 
the  committee.  "By  striking  out  the  word 
Chicago  and  substituting  therefore  the  city  from 
the  State  which  furnished  more  soldiers  than 
another  state — the  city  of  Pittsburgh/' 

This  elicited  great  applause— especially  from 
the  Pennsylvania  delegation.  Mr.  Stems  of 
Louisiana  got  the  floor 

"I  want  to  tell  you  what  took  place  in  that 
committee, "  he  said.  "The  committee  selected 
a  place  to  the  best  interest  of  this  organization 


O     6 


„ 


o 


Eric  Fisher  Wood 

Secretary 


The  Legion  Won't  Meet  at  Chicago      95 

and  not  to  the  best  interest  of  any  one  specific 
locality,  and  the  question  was  argued  in  a  very 
quiet,  organized,  gentlemanly  manner.  A  number 
of  the  delegates  put  up  towns  that  did  not  get 
enough  support  to  get  the  meeting,  so  they  with- 
drew their  names.  It  was  all  to  the  interest  of 
the  organization  so  it  was  unanimously  adopted 
by  that  committee,  without  any  dissenting  vote, 
that  Chicago  be  unanimously  adopted  as  the 
place  for  the  next  convention  for  the  best  of  all 
interests  concerned.  I  am  from  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana,  which  is  a  convention  city  and  I  will 
not  offer  my  city  to  you  as  a  convention  city  at 
this  time  because  I  do  not  think  it  is  to  the  best 
interest  of  your  country." 

When  Mr.  Stem  took  his  seat  at  least  a  dozen 
delegates  clamored  for  recognition  from  the 
chair.  Colonel  J.  F.  J.  Herbert  succeeded  in 
getting  it.  It  was  he  who  then  fired  the  gun 
which,  if  not  heard  around  the  world  at  least 
made  Chicago's  ear  drums  rattle. 

"Mr.  Chairman, "  he  began 

Colonel  Lindsley  rapped  for  order. 

A  man  near  me  whispered,  "There's  Herbert 
of  Massachusetts.  I  think  Boston  is  too  far 
east  for  this  convention,  at  least  for  the  first 
one." 

Colonel    Lindsley   got   order,   and   you   could 


96       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

have  heard  a  pin  drop,  while  the  following  state- 
ment was  made  by  the  Massachusetts  leader : 

"As  the  spokesman  for  my  delegation  on  this 
question  of  next  meeting  place  I  want  to  say  that 
if  no  other  body  and  if  no  other  party  of  this  caucus 
wants  or  believes  it  is  its  duty  to  rebuke  any  city 
or  the  representative  of  any  city  for  Un-American- 
ism  during  the  time  when  the  soldiers  of  that  city 
were  offering  their  lives  in  defense  of  the  world, 
then  Massachusetts  stands  ready  to  offer  that 
rebuke.  Massachusetts  will  not  agree  willingly 
to  having  a  convention  of  soldiers  and  sailors  in 
the  Great  War,  go  to  a  city  that  has  as  its  first 
citizen,  by  vote,  one  who  can  not  measure  up  in 
any  small  part  when  the  test  is  one  hundred  per 
cent.  Americanism/' 

When  Colonel  Herbert  reached  this  point  one 
delegate  with  a  big  voice  from  a  big  State  (Texas) 
let  out  a  loud  yell  of  approval.  This  was  the  signal 
for  blast  after  blast  of  vocal  vociferousness  which 
fairly  raised  the  roof.  Men  stood  on  their  seats, 
and  cheered.  "You're  dead  right "  and  "Get 
a  new  mayor,  Chicago/'  while  others  began  to 
point  at  placards  advertising  Chicago  which  had 
been  placed  on  the  walls  of  the  theater  by  members 
of  the  Illinois  delegation.  Colonel  Herbert  stood 
for  fully  five  minutes  before  order  was  sufficiently 
restored  for  him  to  proceed. 


The  Legion  Won* t  Meet  at  Chicago      97 

"The  hall  has  been  placarded  with  invitations, 
reading,  'The  American  Legion,  Chicago  wants  you 
in  November/  "  he  said.  "I  believe  that  this  con- 
vention, this  convention  of  soldiers  and  sailors 
should  say,  '  Chicago,  you  cannot  have  American 
soldiers  in  Chicago  when  there  is  a  possibility  that 
the  chief  representative  of  that  city  may  not  believe 
it  is  his  duty  to  come  before  the  Convention  and 
welcome  it.'  If  these  placards  read,  ' American 
Legion,  Chicago  soldiers  want  you  in  November, ' 
our  answer  might  be  different.  The  answer  of 
Massachusetts  would  be  different  but  when  your 
placard  reads,  'Chicago  wants  you  in  November' 
the  answer  of  Massachusetts  is,  'Chicago  cannot 
have  us  in  November' — or  any  other  time  until 
Chicago  has  an  American  for  Mayor  in  an  Ameri- 
can city. 

"The  literature  circulated  through  the  caucus 
reads,  '  Chicago  pledges  itself  to  go  any  other  city 
one  better  on  anything  this  convention  requires/ 
This  convention  first  requires  that  Chicago  shall 
reach  a  standard  different  from  the  standard  of 
being  the  most  despised  city  in  America,  and 
when  it  has  reached  that  standard,  it  is  tihen  in  a 
position  to  say  whether  it  can  go  one  better.  It 
has  not  yet  reached  par.  Until  Chicago  reaches 
par,  Massachusetts  votes  no!" 

A  large  poster  reading  "Chicago  bids  you  Wei- 


98       The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

come, "  had  been  placed  over  the  seats  directly  in 
the  center  of  the  stage;  Captain  Osborne  pulled 
it  down.  This  was  the  signal  for  similar  action 
all  over  the  house.  Chicago  banners,  dropped 
from  the  boxes,  were  hurled  to  the  floor.  Other 
banners  which  had  been  on  the  theater  walls  just 
out  of  reach  were  torn  down  by  men  who  climbed 
on  the  shoulders  of  their  fellow  delegates  in  order 
to  reach  them.  Only  during  the  ovation  given 
Colonel  Roosevelt,  did  the  cheering  reach  such 
intensity. 

These  men  were  cheering  for  Americanism. 
They  wanted  one  hundred  per  cent.  Americanism, 
untainted  and  unvarnished  by  a  hyphen  or  an 
"ism, "  especially  when  the  word  pacific  precedes 
the  latter.  Everyone  felt  sorry  for  the  Illinois  dele- 
gation, for  it  was  realized  that  Colonel  Herbert's 
remarks  were  intended  solely  to  reflect  upon  the 
person  he  specially  mentioned  and  not  upon  the 
thousands  of  soldiers  and  sailors  who  went  from 
Illinois  and  Chicago  and  did  more  than  their  part 
in  writing  glorious  history. 

Just  how  this  was  impressed  upon  the  men 
from  Illinois  let  the  minutes  show.  The  chairman 
recognized  "the  gentleman  from  Chicago/' 

MR.  CUMMINGS  (of  Chicago):  "Gentlemen,  I 
don't  believe  there  is  a  single  delegate  to  this 
caucus  who  would  be  so  unfair  as  to  impugn  the 


The  Legion  Won't  Meet  at  Chicago      99 

patriotism  of  650,000  men  who  rallied  to  the 
colors  of  this  country  by  saying:  'Because 
Chicago  had  a  mayor  of  which  they  are  all  ashamed 
that  they  are  not  patriotic/  Had  the  men  who 
were  serving  the  colors  in  France  been  in  Chicago, 
they  would  have  had  no  apology  to  offer  for  their 
mayor.  (Applause.)  He  was  elected  in  a  three- 
cornered  fight  where  he  did  not  receive  a  majority 
vote  in  Chicago,  but  had  the  opposition  to  him 
been  solidified  he  would  have  been  snowed  under, 
for  Chicago  is  patriotic.  I  consider  that  an  insult 
has  been  handed  to  every  man  in  Illinois  who 
rallied  to  the  colors. 

"The  Tank  Corps  of  which  I  am  a  member,  and 
an  enlisted  man  originally,  gave  from  Chicago 
11,250  enlisted  men,  volunteers  in  the  most  haz- 
ardous branch  of  the  service.  They  gave  11,250 
men  as  against  1 1 ,000  which  the  rest  of  the  country 
contributed.  If  that  doesn't  bespeak  patriotism 
for  Chicago,  I  don't  know  how  you  are  going  to 
gauge  it.  I  am  saying  that  in  the  invitation  which 
was  extended  to  you  we  are  speaking  for  the  boys 
of  khaki  and  blue  who  rallied  to  the  colors  from 
Illinois,  and  who  are  here  to-day,  extending  the 
invitation  to  you  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
we  are  cursed  by  a  mayor  who  is  not  our  choice. 
We  would  throw  him  out  if  we  had  the  chance, 
but  we  are  extending  the  invitation  to  you  on 


ioo     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

behalf  of  750,000  men  from  Illinois  and  we  do  not 
feel  that  you  are  going  to  impugn  their  patriot- 
ism, that  you  are  going  to  insult  them  by  saying 
they  are  members  of  an  unpatriotic  community. " 

MR.  HAWKINS  (of  Oklahoma) :  "The  great  State 
of  Illinois  stands  unchallenged  in  the  patriotism  of 
its  soldiers  throughout  the  world.  I  am  only  sorry 
that  you  didn't  leave  enough  patriots  at  home  to 
elect  a  patriotic  mayor  of  that  great  city.  You  are 
in  the  embarrassing  position  of  having  a  man  who 
has  repudiated  the  things  we  went  out  to  die  for. 
Either  you  have  got  to  repudiate  us  or  repudiate 
him." 

1 '  We'll  repudiate  him  next  time  when  the  boys 
get  home,"  shouted  several  of  the  Illinois  crowd. 

Then  other  speakers  tried  to  make  it  plain  that 
the  Legion's  attack  was  solely  against  the  municipal 
head  of  Chicago,  but  some  of  the  men  of  Illinois  let 
the  incident  rankle.  How  it  came  out  (and  it  was 
ended  happily)  will  develop.  Meantime  the  atten- 
tion of  the  caucus  was  diverted  from  the  Chicago 
incident  by  the  manifestation  of  that  desire  which 
is  in  every  true  American's  heart,  namely  to  be  a 
booster  for  his  own  home  town.  In  less  time  than 
it  takes  to  tell  it,  Los  Angeles,  Minneapolis,  Atlan- 
tic City,  St.  Louis,  Pittsburgh,  Indianapolis,  Kansas 
City,  and  Chicago  were  being  voted  upon.  While 
the  delegates  were  voting,  a  small  body  of  soldiers 


The  Legion  Won't  Meet  at  Chicago     101 

and  sailors  were  gathered  together  in  a  wing  of 
the  theater,  seriously  discussing  the  incident  which 
was  developed  by  Colonel  Herbert's  speech.  They 
desired  that  it  should  be  made  more  plain  to  every- 
one just  what  Colonel  Herbert  meant  and  that  the 
millions  of  patriotic  simon-pure  Americans  who 
live  in  Illinois  should  not  take  undue  umbrage  of 
the  incident.  Therefore  while  the  vote  on  the 
convention  city  was  being  counted,  Colonel  Luke 
Lea  was  recognized  by  the  chairman  and  asked 
unanimous  consent  to  present  for  consideration 
the  f  olio  wing  resolution : 

"  RESOLVED,  That  the  action  of  the  caucus  of  the 
American  Legion  in  refusing  to  accept  the  invita- 
tion to  hold  its  next  convention  in  Chicago  is  no 
reflection  upon  the  splendid  patriotism  of  the  men 
and  women  of  that  great  city,  who  have  loyally 
proved  their  Americanism  by  supporting  our  Army 
and  Navy  and  all  war  activities. 

"BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED,  That  this  caucus 
records  its  admiration  of  the  valor  and  heroism  of 
the  thousands  and  thousands  of  Chicago's  sons 
whose  pure  patriotism  has  been  proven  on  the 
battlefields  of  France. " 

"I  would  like  to  say  something  in  support  of 
the  motion/'  Colonel  Lea  said.  "  It  is  very  proper 
for  me  to  offer  it  for  I  had  the  privilege  of  serving 
for  three  months  with  the  great  Thirty- third  Divi- 


IO2      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

sion  of  Illinois  and  I  know  what  wonderful  soldiers 
they  are. " 

The  resolution  was  adopted  by  unanimous  vote. 

No  booster  ever  had  a  better  time  than  had 
those  who  attended  the  St.  Louis  Caucus.  Local 
pride  assumed  its  highest  pitch  during  the  vote, 
and  at  length  Minneapolis  won  it.  The  date  was 
set  for  November  io-n-i2th. 

Just  before  adjournment  Colonel  Herbert  arose 
to  a  question  of  personal  privilege. 

"I  would  like,  if  possible, "  he  said, " to  have  the 
attention  for  a  few  minutes  of  every  man  that  is 
in  this  theater.  Intentionally  or  otherwise,  and  I 
think  it  was  otherwise,  the  soldiers  of  Illinois  have 
felt  that  I  was  not  just  to  them  in  the  remarks  that 
I  made  bearing  on  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
the  Next  Meeting  Place.  I  meant  to  say,  and  I 
believe  now  that  I  did  say,  that  if  those  banners 
that  were  hung  in  this  theater  had  read,  'American 
Legion,  Chicago's  soldiers  invite  you  next  Novem- 
ber. '  Massachusetts'  answer  would  have  been 
'Yes. '  I  believe  I  said  that.  The  men  of  Illinois 
believe  I  did  not  say  it.  The  men  of  Illinois  be- 
lieve that  when  I  sat  down  after  making  the  few 
remarks  I  did,  that  I  had  a  sardonic  smile  on  my 
lips  and  they  say  that  I  have  insulted  them  to  the 
heart  and  I  say  to  them:  'If  there  is  anything 
that  I  can  say,  anything  that  I  can  do,  as  soldier 


The  Legion  Won't  Meet  at  Chicago     103 

to  soldier  to  remove  from  your  mind,  or  from  the 
minds  of  any  man  who  may  have  been  in  this 
theater,  any  belief  that  there  was  any  feeling  except 
of  highest  admiration,  the  highest  respect,  and  the 
deepest  affection  on  the  part  of  the  soldiers  of 
Massachusetts  for  the  soldiers  of  Illinois,  then  I 
want  to  correct  that  impression,  because  I  want 
you,  the  soldiers  of  Illinois,  to  know  that  we  recog- 
nize in  Massachusetts  that  no  better  soldiers  wore 
the  khaki,  no  better  sailors  wore  the  blue,  than 
the  men  of  Illinois.  My  remarks  were,  as  I  stated, 
for  the  purpose  of  saying  Massachusetts  would,  if 
no  other  State  would,  take  such  action  to  rebuke" 
the  city  of  Chicago;  would  say  to  Chicago  that  if 
it  would  have  the  right  to  invite  Americans  to  meet 
in  that  city,  first  Americanize  the  City  Hall.  That 
was  my  chief  purpose  of  rising  to  my  feet.  If 
Chicago's  soldiers,  if  Illinois'  soldiers  still  think 
that  I  have  not  made  reparation  for  what  they 
believe  was  the  intention  of  my  remarks,  then  I  say 
to  them  that  no  higher  respect,  no  deeper  affection 
exists  for  them  than  in  the  hearts  of  the  men  of 
Massachusetts." 

Colonel  Herbert's  assault  upon  Chicago's  mayor 
in  itself  is  only  half  significant.  It  is  only  wholly 
so  when  its  reception  is  considered.  Colonel  Her- 
bert will  have  none  of  Chicago  until  it  has  purged 


104      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

itself  of  its  municipal  leader.  He  remembered, 
perhaps,  the  assertion  that  it  is  "the  sixth  largest 
German  city  in  the  world. "  He  might  have  said 
as  much  in  a  newspaper  interview  as  he  said  on 
the  floor  of  the  caucus  had  he  been  asked  about 
the  Illinois  city  as  a  meeting  place  for  soldiers, 
and,  perhaps,  the  editor  would  have  given  to  it  a 
half  column  of  space;  in  the  larger  dailies,  less. 
But  when  men  of  the  army,  navy,  and  marine 
corps,  from  every  battlefield  in  Prance,  from  every 
State  in  the  union,  voice  their  approval  so  thun- 
derously; when  they  stand  on  their  seats  and 
cheer;  when  they  so  positively  overrule  the  rec- 
ommendation of  committeemen  who  have  studi- 
ously considered  the  matter,  presumably  from  all 
angles,  it  means  much.  No  wonder  Metropolitan 
dailies  devoted  columns  to  it. 

Those  of  you  who  have  become  low-spirited  over 
your  own  particular  view  of  the  future;  those  of 
you  who  have  talked  about  "the  good  old  days"; 
or,  the  Spirit  of  '76,  take  heart.  Take  counsel  of 
the  Spirit  of  '19,  based  on  the  deeds  of  '17  and  '18, 
on  the  mistakes  of  '  14, '  1 5 ,  and  '  1 6.  '  1 9  is  all  right ! 

Read  the  constitution  of  the  American  Legion 
to-night  just  before  you  go  to  bed.  Think  of  this 
second  day's  session  when  the  Bolsheviki-tainted 
organization  was  thrown  out,  when  the  second 
largest  city  in  America  was  told  to  '  '  clean  house " 


The  Legion  Won't  Meet  at  Chicago     105 

and  redecorate  in  red,  white,  and  blue.  Then  go 
to  bed  and  know  that  all's  right  with  the  United 
States. 

A  large  number  of  the  delegates  attended,  on  the 
second  evening,  a  dance  and  supper  at  Sunset  Inn 
given  in  honor  of  the  Legion  by  the  ladies  of  St. 
Louis.  For  most  though,  there  was  work  in 
plenty  to  do.  Some  of  the  committees  hadn't  yet 
reported  and  there  was  an  all  important  meeting 
of  the  executive  committee  in  the  Statler  Hotel. 

I  said  all  important  by  design.  The  caucus  had 
taken  up  a  great  deal  of  time  with  the  proceed- 
ings already  recounted  and  it  was  the  purpose  of 
the  executive  committee  on  adjournment-eve  to 
get  down  to  brass  tacks.  It  certainly  did  that. 
It  was  agreed  to  recommend  to  the  caucus  that  the 
Legion  should  attempt  to  help  get  returning  sol- 
diers and  sailors  positions  and  that  a  legal  de- 
partment should  be  established  which  would  aid 
men  to  get  back  pay  and  allotments,  while  still 
another  department  would  look  after  their  insur- 
ance and  instruct  them  how  to  change  it  to  policies 
of  a  permanent  character.  Needless  to  say  these 
conclusions  were  not  arrived  at  without  a  great 
deal  of  helpful  discussion. 

Then  too  this  executive  meeting  was  all  impor- 
tant because  it  let  several  persons  who  claimed  to 


io6     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

be  dissatisfied,  air  their  grievances,  thereby  clear- 
ing the  atmosphere  of  considerable  cloudiness.  For 
the  most  part  these  malcontents  didn't  seem  at  first 
to  distinguish  between  the  caucus  and  the  Novem- 
ber convention.  They  didn't  seem  to  catch  at 
first  hand  the  spirit  of  the  A.  E.  F.  caucus  which 
positively  refused  to  take  action  on  large  questions 
of  policy  until  the  Home  Army  could  be  consulted. 
The  principal  leaders  of  the  caucus  in  St.  Louis  de- 
termined upon  the  same  course,  as  has  been  pre- 
viously explained,  and  rightly  so.  One  thing  one 
element  wanted  to  do  was  to  elect  permanent 
officers.  "How  could  you  do  that  when  more 
than  a  million  men  entitled  to  a  vote  are  still  in 
France?"  they  were  asked.  They  couldn't  answer. 
Another  element  wanted  to  go  on  record  against 
universal  military  training  while  still  others  were 
for  endorsing  it.  Someone  else  wanted  this  city 
to  be  chosen  as  permanent  headquarters  while 
another  wanted  some  other  town  selected.  There 
was  some  grumbling  to  the  effect  that  the  caucus 
had  been  too  "  rowdy. "  Then,  too,  everybody  was 
more  or  less  tired  out  and  a  darker  view  of  things 
was  natural. 

The  silver  lining  was  there,  however,  as  it  al- 
ways is.  This  time  it  took  the  rotund  form  of  a 
preacher  from  Alabama.  Inzer  was  his  name  and 
his  folks  and  Colonel  Roosevelt's  away  back  five  or 


The  Legion  Won't  Meet  at  Chicago     107 

six  generations  ago  in  Georgia  had  been  the  same 
people,  so  let's  introduce  him  as  Colonel  Roosevelt's 
cousin.  Chaplain  Inzer  had  been  ready  to  embark 
at  Newport  News  with  his  regiment  when  the 
Bolsheviki  menace  grew  quite  serious  in  the 
Pacific  northwest  and  he  was  ordered  to  proceed 
to  Seattle  and  was  there  during  all  the  stirring 
times  which  culminated  in  making  Ole  Hanson 
famous. 

It  might  truthfully  be  said  that  the  "  silver  lin- 
ing "  quite  properly  had  a  silver  tongue.  When 
he  had  spoken  just  about  a  hundred  words  even 
the  grouches  were  holding  onto  their  chairs  if 
they  weren't  using  their  hands  for  purposes  of 
applause.  And  many  a  man,  who  thought  he'd 
talked  his  voice  silent  dug  deep  down  in  his  vocal 
chords  and  brought  forth  something  that  could 
easily  be  labeled  a  cheer!  This  preacher  told 
everybody  who  might  have  the  slightest  idea  of 
making  trouble  just  where  to  get^off.  But  I  am 
not  going  to  try  to  remember  his  speech  and  per- 
haps improperly  quote  the  chaplain.  The  speech 
was  so  good  that  they  made  him  do  it  again  at  the 
very  opening  of  the  caucus  the  next  morning,  so 
I'm  going  to  lead  off  with  it  in  my  story  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  last  day,  just  as  the 
stenographers  recorded  it. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE   SILVER   LINING 

SOON  after  the  caucus  opened  on  Saturday 
morning,  May  10,  the  minutes  read  as  follows: 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  " Gentlemen,  before  we  have 
the  report  of  the  Resolutions  Committee,  I  want 
to  say  to  those  who  were  not  of  the  Executive 
Committee  and  in  its  meeting  last  night,  that  there 
seemed  to  me  to  be  there  a  more  splendid  crystalli- 
zation of  the  real  purpose  of  this  caucus  and  a  fore- 
sight into  what  it  is  going  to  mean,  not  only  to  these 
four  millions  of  men  but  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States  for  the  next  half  century,  than  I  have  ever 
heard,  and  at  the  request  of  a  number  of  those  who 
were  there  at  that  meeting,  I  am  going  to  ask  one 
of  them  to  interpret  to  you  in  just  a  few  minutes, 
as  well  as  he  can,  and  he  did  it  wonderfully  well 
last  night,  the  spirit  that  we  believed  in  that  meet- 
ing is  your  spirit  here  to-day  and  the  spirit  that  is 
going  out  from  this  caucus  as  a  slogan  to  all  Amer- 
ican citizens  and  through  them  to  the  world,  indi- 
cating the  purposes  for  which  we  fought,  and  more 

108 


The  Silver  Lining  109 

than  that,  the  purposes  for  which  American  man- 
hood stands  and  for  which  it  will  fight  again,  if 
necessary,  the  heritage  we  will  hand  down  to  our 
children,  and  I  will  ask  this  gentleman  to  present 
that  thought  to  you. " 

CHAPLAIN  W.  INZER  (of  Alabama):  " Gentle- 
men, I  appreciate  this  opportunity  more  than  I 
have  words  to  say,  and  if  you  will  only  be  as  sym- 
pathetic with  me  for  these  minutes  as  that  Execu- 
tive Committee  was  last  night,  I  will  do  my  best 
to  interpret  the  spirit  and  the  mind  of  this  conven- 
tion as  I  see  it  and  as  I  saw  it  last  night.  I  never 
had  a  more  sympathetic  audience,  it  seemed  to 
me,  or  a  more  psychological  moment  in  which  to 
speak  than  that  was  last  night  and  I  appreciate 
the  spirit  of  the  brethren  who  asked  me  to  come 
out  and  make  this  talk  this  morning  and  I  am  go- 
ing to  try  my  best  to  interpret  it  as  I  saw  it  last 
night. 

"  There  has  been  an  undercurrent  all  through  this 
Convention.  Somebody  has  been  afraid  that  we 
are  going  to  do  something  or  pop  some  lid  off  that 
will  bust  the  thing  and  I  have  been,  as  I  said  last 
night,  sometimes  scared  almost  to  death.  I  think  I 
could  personally  say  that  I  wanted  to  make  about 
seventy-four  speeches  in  the  two  days  that  I  have 
been  here.  I  didn't  do  it  but  I  was  waiting  and 
praying  for  the  psychological  hour  to  arrive  and 


no      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

I  believe  that  that  hour  came  last  night  when  this 
Executive  Committee  really  got  together  and  got 
something  concrete  before  them,  and  I  think  that 
the  whole  Convention  comes  together  this  morning 
ready  to  take  up  matters  of  importance  and  leave 
off  matters  that  should  not  be  taken  up,  and  to 
solidify  this  body  in  a  great  spirit  of  Americanism 
that  shall  last  for  fifty  years  as  the  greatest  organ- 
ization that  the  world  has  ever  known. "  (Applause.) 
"Now  the  keyword  that  I  want  to  say  in  the 
beginning  is,  at  all  costs  we  want  to  save  this  or- 
ganization. We  do  not  want  anything  to  arise  to- 
day that  will  in  any  way  mar  the  spirit  of  this  great 
assembly  and  the  work  that  it  is  going  to  do  in 
the  future.  While  you  were  deliberating  here  these 
past  two  days  some  of  you  thought  only  of  this 
hour  and  this  moment,  but,  gentlemen,  I  had  an 
eye  cast  into  the  future  and  I  was  dreaming 
dreams  and  seeing  visions  of  the  years  that  are  to 
come  and  the  wonderful  work,  the  wonderful  influ- 
ence, and  the  mighty  power  that  this  organization 
is  going  to  have  and  exert  upon  this  nation  and 
upon  the  whole  world,  and  I  want  you  to  think  of 
it  in  these  terms.  This  convention  is  a  baby  and 
we  must  not  choke  this  baby.  You  can't  give  a 
young  baby  a  gallon  of  castor  oil  the  first  week. 
It  only  requires  castoria,  that  is  all  the  first  week. 
It  can  stand  with  a  little  mother's  milk,  and  I  want 


The  Silver  Lining  in 

you  to  feel  that  way  about  it  to-day. "  (Laughter 
and  Applause.) 

"  Our  first  duty  is  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt 
to  get  this  infant  on  its  legs,  and  once  we  get  it  on 
its  legs,  it  will  be  like  the  mighty  Niagara  Falls, 
there  isn't  anything  in  the  world  can  dam  it  up. 
It  will  be  a  power  that  shall  be  known,  and  with 
influence  all  over  America  and  for  good  all  over 
the  world.  Let's  be  quiet  and  let's  be  sensible  to- 
day until  we  get  this  infant  on  his  legs.  He's  just 
a  recruit,  a  raw  recruit,  and  he  has  to  be  trained 
and  we  are  going  to  do  that  now. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  want  to  say  just  here,  if  you  can 
only  think  about  this  Legion — the  chairman  spoke 
of  it  last  night  to  me — as  the  jewel  of  the  ages.  I 
believe  that  is  the  best  interpretation  I  know.  I 
cannot  say  anything  greater  than  this:  I  believe 
God  raised  up  America  for  this  great  hour ;  I  can 
say  that  the  strong  young  man  of  the  time  is  to 
be  the  American  Legion  in  this  country  and  in  the 
world. 

"What  the  great  seers  of  the  past  ages  have 
dreamed  and  what  they  have  planned  and  longed 
for,  the  opportunity  that  they  sought,  have  sud- 
denly been  placed  and  in  our  hands.  Are  we  going 
to  be  great  men  and  big  men?  Will  we  arise  to 
the  dignity  and  be  worthy  of  the  occasion  ? 

"I  believe  that  we  will.     Oh,  men,  if  I  might 


H2      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

make  it  plain  to  you  that  it  seems  to  me  I  stand 
on  the  very  rim  of  creation  and  I  am  speaking 
there  to  an  angel  who  has  never  yet  been  able 
to  see  light.  I  said:  *  Angel,  what  are  you  doing 
here?*  and  he  said:  'I  was  placed  here  when  God 
created  this  world ' ;  and  he  said :  '  God  sent  me  to 
look  down  upon  this  world  and  report  to  him  at 
one  special  time,  and  that  one  time  only/  and 
I  said:  'What  was  to  be  the  nature  of  that  re- 
port ? '  He  said : '  God  made  man  in  His  own  image 
and  God  Himself  is  a  being  of  knowledge,  love, 
truth,  democracy,  and  peace, '  and  He  said  to  that 
angel,  'Don't  you  ever  leave  that  world  until  you 
see  dawn,  until  you  see  that  man  has  come  up 
to  the  place  where  he  will  begin  to  measure  up  to 
what  I  expected  of  him, '  and  that  angel  said  to 
me,  'I  have  sat  here  through  all  the  ages  and  I 
have  seen  times  when  I  thought  that  the  sunlight 
of  God's  great  knowledge  and  love  and  truth  was 
going  to  come  over  the  hills  and  then  some  being 
like  the  Kaiser  or  Alexander  or  Napoleon  or  some 
one  that  was  of  a  Bolsheviki  type  would  rise  up 
and  retard  it  and  the  sun  could  never  rise/  but  he 
said:  'Thank  God  on  April  6,  1917, 1  reported  back 
to  God  when  America  entered  this  war  that  I 
had  seen  the  dawn/  (Applause.) 

"As  little  as  you  dream,  maybe  when  you  came 
here  and  as  little  as  you  thought  about  it  in  the 


The  Silver  Lining  113 

commitment  of  time,  I  believe  to-day  that  we  stand 
on  the  dawn  of  the  realization  of  the  republic  of 
man  which  is  nothing  short  of  the  Kingdom  of  God 
on  earth  when  men  shall  be  men."  (Applause.) 

' '  So  the  first  thing  we  are  to  do  to-day  is  to  get 
a  great  spirit,  men,  a  great  spirit  that  we  can  carry 
back.  All  the  other  questions  will  be  ironed  out 
in  due  time.  Everything  will  be  straightened  out 
when  we  realize  that  five  million  men  are  going  to 
be  organized  with  the  same  spirit  of  love  and  loy- 
alty and  devotion  and  sacrifice  and  democracy  that 
characterized  their  lives  on  the  battlefield.  They 
will  never  rest  until  they  make  this  whole  world 
bloom  in  love,  democracy,  peace  and  prosperity 
and  equality  and  brotherhood  for  all  mankind. 
That  is  what  we  are  going  to  do  and  that  is  what 
this  assembly  means  to-day.  It  is  the  world's 
great  opportunity  and  your  privilege  to  share 
with  it. 

"  Now,  then,  I  want  to  say  that  the  soldier  spirit 
is  going  to  be  my  spirit  and  I  believe  it  is  going 
to  be  your  spirit.  When  Wilson  and  the  other 
men  called  us  to  the  war,  I  was  glad  and  ready 
immediately  to  offer  my  life  because  of  the  great 
principle.  I  said  to  those  men  last  night  in  that 
Executive  Committee  and  I  mean  it  to-day,  I'd 
gladly  lay  down  my  life  to-day  if  laying  down  my 
life  meant  that  this  Legion  should  live  and  fulfill 


H4      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

my  dreams  of  its  service  to  the  country  for  these 
next  fifty  years.  (Applause.)  So  do  you  think  I 
want  anything  to  come  up  here  that  would  disrupt 
this  body?  Never!  Do  you  think  I  want  to  make 
a  fiery  speech  about  something  because  it  is  my 
personal  conviction?  No,  I  have  a  hundred  per- 
sonal convictions  that  I  would  like  to  see  operat- 
ing in  the  United  States  and  this  convention,  but 
it  isn't  the  time  and  I  am  not  going  to  bring  them 
up  here.  I  don't  want  to  say  anything  that  will 
keep  all  of  us  from  pulling  together  like  a  military 
army  for  the  great  things  that  this  convention  in 
the  future  is  going  to  stand  for.  So  my  final  word 
is  this :  That  this  day,  we  get  right  down  to  busi- 
ness and  that  we  omit  everything  that  we  can 
omit  pertaining  to  the  permanent  policy  of  this 
organization  that  we  cannot  all  immediately  agree 
upon. 

* '  If  there  is  going  to  be  anything  discussed  here 
to-day  that  everybody  in  this  convention  won't  im- 
mediately agree  upon  and  would  hinder  us  from 
sending  out  to  the  nation  word  that  we  stand  to- 
gether and  that  we  are  going  to  pull  together,  that 
we  caught  a  mighty  vision  and  that  we  have  gained 
the  great  spirit,  then,  brethren,  let's  carry  that 
thing  over  until  November  when  all  the  boys  come 
home  and  then  we  will  discuss  it  there.  There  are 
many  things  to-day  that  we  can  discuss  that  are 


The  Silver  Lining  115 

important  and  fundamental  and  that  are  urgently 
needed  in  our  nation  this  hour.  Let's  take  those 
things  up  and  get  down  to  business  on  it  to-day. 
Every  Executive  Member  from  each  State  pledged 
the  chairman  last  night  that  he  was  going  to  act 
as  a  sergeant-at-arms  in  his  delegation  and  hold 
the  convention  in  order  to-day.  We  are  going  to 
do  the  right  thing  and  we  won't  be  'busted'  by 
anything  or  by  anybody,  and  when  anything 
comes  up  that  isn't  the  right  thing  for  us  to  do 
to  make  a  great  impression  on  America,  and  the 
world,  we  will  say  hold  that  thing  over  until  the 
baby  is  strong  enough  to  do  it  right. 

1 '  I  beg  you  to  do  those  things.  Somebody  said : 
4  What  are  the  things  we  can  do  to-day  ? '  We  men- 
tioned them  last  night. 

' 'Jack  Sullivan  has  problems  out  there  that  we 
must  meet  this  very  day.  One  of  those  is  this 
Bolsheviki  business.  We  are  going  to  pass  resolu- 
tions this  very  day,  I  believe,  asking  the  United 
States  in  Congress  to  pass  a  bill  for  immediate 
action  of  deporting  every  one  of  those  Bolsheviki 
or  I.  W.  W.'s  out  yonder."  (Prolonged  Applause.) 

"  Gentlemen,  I  know  what  I  am  talking  about. 
You  don't  know  how  badly  I  do  hate  some  of  those 
guys.  If  it  hadn't  been  for  them  I  would  have 
gotten  on  the  boat  in  Newport  News  in  1918  for 
France,  but  because  of  those  rotten  scamps  I  was 


u6      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

sent  to  Seattle,  Washington,  and  had  to  stay  there 
for  seven  months  guarding  the  interest  of  the  ship- 
building in  the  Western  States. 

"I  was  naturalization  officer  for  our  regiment 
and  that  division  out  there  and  I  have  had  those 
scamps  stand  up  and  say:  'Yes,  I  have  been  here 
fourteen  years  and  have  lived  on  the  fat  of  the 
land,  but  we  don't  want  to  fight/  and  they  would 
deny  citizenship  papers  or  cancel  their  first  papers. 

' '  Now  that  the  war  is  over,  they  are  in  lucrative 
positions  and  our  boys  haven't  got  jobs;  we've  got 
to  say,  send  those  scamps  to  hell."  (Prolonged 
Applause.) 

MWe  can  all  see  this  very  moment  that  there  is 
no  division  on  that  question.  We  stand  together. 
Somebody  said :  'Why,  we  have  been  here  two  days 
and  haven't  done  anything  but  elect  officers  and 
decide  on  a  place  to  meet.  But  let  me  tell  you, 
Buddy,  while  we  have  been  doing  those  things,  we 
have  let  the  world  know  where  we  stand  for  Amer- 
icanism. (Applause.)  And  we  couldn't  have  done 
a  bigger  thing  than  create  the  impression  we  did 
relative  to  Mayor  Thompson  of  Chicago  and  the 
I.  W.  W.'s  of  Seattle.  (Applause.)  We  can  do 
that.  We  are  agreed  on  that.  The  baby  can  do 
that  without  any  trouble  at  all  and  we  are  not 
going  to  choke  him  when  we  start  that  kind  of 
thing. 


The  Silver  Lining  117 

"The  other  question  that  we  might  decide  here 
to-day  is  what  we  are  going  to  do  about  jobs  for  our 
returned  soldiers.  In  my  city  we  have  already 
said:  'Look  here,  man,  you'd  better  post  every  job 
that  is  open  and  post  it  in  the  place  where  we 
get  employment  for  returned  soldiers.  And  they 
have  gotten  down  to  that.  We  want  to  talk  about 
that  to-day  and  get  down  to  business — the  business 
of  getting  jobs  for  our  men,  and  then  we  want  to 
care  for  those  who  come  back  without  money.  We 
want  to  help  them  get  their  allotment  and  get  their 
$60  bonus,  and  we  want  to  care  for  the  wounded. 

"But  these  other  things — excuse  me,  I  can't 
help  but  say  brethren,  because  I  am  a  preacher, 
but  you  are  my  brethren,  I  thank  God  you  are  and 
I  love  you  like  I  love  the  brethren  of  my  church. 
There  is  some  fellow  here  who  might  want  to  spring 
something  because  he  knows  it  would  be  a  lot  of 
fun.  Oh,  brethren,  let's  not  have  any  fun  with 
the  baby  to-day.  (Laughter  and  Applause.)  We 
have  all  we  can  do  to-day.  We  have  all  we  can  do 
if  we  do  those  things  that  we  are  all  united  upon 
and  agreed  upon.  Those  things  which  may  have 
what  they  call  a  nigger  in  the  woodpile,  when  they 
come  up,  let's  say  that  is  something  we  are  going 
to  talk  about  later  when  the  boys  get  home  in 
November,  when  everybody  is  settled  down  and 
we  have  thought  it  through  and  talked  about  it  in 


n8      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

our  State  organizations  and  we  will  come  up  with 
solidified  ideas  and  the  great  spirit  will  have 
gripped  us  and  we  will  know  where  we  stand  and 
will  know  our  power  and  strength. 

"Brethren,  I  say  let's  cut  out  every  last  bit  of 
hoodlumism  to-day.  It  is  the  zero  hour.  Let's 
stand  together.  If  we  don't  carry  anything  else 
home,  let's  go  home  and  say  we  are  for  America, 
that  we  caught  the  spirit  and  the  vision  and  you 
can't  stop  us  with  anything  in  the  world.  I  thank 
you."  (Audience  rises  and  applauds.) 

That  speech  has  been  given  in  full  not  only  for 
the  reasons  which  have  been  stated  before  but 
because  it  is  archtypical  of  the  deep-seated,  serious, 
and  high-minded  soul  of  the  New  American,  born 
of  the  war. 

"Mr.  Chairman,  it  seems  that  Illinois  caught 
the  spirit  of  the  speaker  who  has  just  seated  him- 
self, in  advance." 

Before  the  applause  over  Inzer's  speech  had 
ended  and  before  we  realized  it,  Mr.  Cummings 
of  Illinois  had  the  floor.  He  said  that  the  Illinois 
delegation  had  been  ungracious  in  accepting 
Colonel  Herbert's  explanation  of  his  remarks  the 
previous  day. 

"We  wish  to  withdraw  that  implication,"  Mr. 
Cummings  said.  "We  wish  to  state  to  you  as  a 


Caspar  Bacon 
Treasurer 


4> 

•a 


JA 

"S 


The  Silver  Lining  119 

solid  Illinois  delegation  that  we  give  full  faith  and 
credit  to  the  high,  patriotic  motive  which  prompted 
this  gentleman  in  making  the  speech  to  you  which 
he  did  and  in  bringing  before  this  organization  the 
question  which  he  did.  We  feel  on  cooler  delib- 
eration and  upon  giving  the  matter  the  thought 
which  its  importance  demanded,  that  he  is  help- 
ing us  and  that  he  has  placed  the  American  Legion 
in  a  position  to  help  us  to  move  in  a  body  politic, 
to  overcome  certain  things  in  the  State  of  Illinois 
and  blot  out  pro-Germanism. 

11 1  say  that  the  American  Legion  is  bigger  than 
any  man;  it  is  bigger  than  any  State;  it  is  bigger 
than  any  combination  of  States;  it  is  the  unified 
action  of  the  millions  of  men  who  were  willing  to 
sacrifice  their  lives,  their  fortunes,  their  all  on  the 
altar  of  this  country  for  the  cause  of  democracy, 
to  make  the  world  safe  for  democracy,  and  they  are 
going  to  help  us  make  Illinois  come  to  the  front 
and  clean  its  skirts  of  the  stigma  which  is  attached. 
We  know  that  you  are  going  to  help  us  in  it,  and 
with  the  support  of  the  American  Legion,  nothing 
will  stop  us  from  cleaning  our  skirts,  from  washing 
our  dirty  linen  at  home.  When  the  next  conven- 
tion of  the  American  Legion  is  held,  as  soon  as  we 
have  had  an  opportunity  or  the  boys  in  khaki  and 
blue  have  had  an  opportunity  to  give  an  honest  ex- 
pression of  views  on  the  question  of  Burgomaster 


120      The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Thompson,  we  will  come  through  with  clean  skirts, 
we  will  stand  before  you  without  a  question  as  to  the 
patriotism  of  the  great  City  of  Chicago  and  the  State 
of  Illinois.  We  are  for  the  American  Legion  first, 
last,  and  all  the  time,  and  I  will  pledge  Illinois*  seven 
hundred  thousand  soldiers  who  have  gone  to  the 
front  for  the  colors  in  this  organization  to  a  man." 

'  - .  .  .  .  and  clean  its  skirts  of  the  stigma 
which  is  attached  and  we  know  you  are  going  to 
help  us  in  it,  for  we  will  have  the  support  of  the 
American  Legion  and  with  that  support  when  the 
boys  from  over  there  get  back,  nothing  will  stop 
us  from  cleaning  our  skirts.  .  .  .  " 

Attention  is  drawn  specifically  to  that  sentence, 
because  it  affords  an  excellent  opportunity  to  ex- 
plain the  difference  between  politics  and  policies. 
The  Legion  has  policies  but  it  is  not  political. 
One  prime  policy  is  the  demand  for  one  hundred 
per  cent.  Americanism.  Whoever  or  whatever  can- 
not read  that  mark,  be  it  Chicago's  mayor  or  the 
Seattle  Soldier's  Council,  the  Legion's  caution  is 
"  measure  up. "  The  Legion,  as  the  Legion  will  not 
go  into  municipal  politics  in  Chicago  but  the  mem- 
bers of  the  various  posts  in  that  city  like  all  other 
Legion  members  stand  for  one  hundred  per  cent, 
simon-pure  patriotism  and  regardless  of  party f 


The  Silver  Lining  121 

he  who  does  not  " measure  up"  had  best  beware. 
The  Legion,  as  the  Legion,  never  will  endorse  a 
political  party  or  a  party 's  candidate  for  office. 
But  it  will  have  platforms,  it  will  have  tenets,  it 
will  have  principles.  These  platforms,  tenets,  and 
principles  will  be  seen,  felt,  heard,  and  heeded  by 
the  voters  of  the  United  States.  Furthermore, 
these  platforms,  tenets,  and  principles  will  be 
supported  regardless  of  political  party,  political 
affiliations,  or  partisan  sponsorship. 


CHAPTER  IX 

OBJECTORS — CONSCIENTIOUS  AND   OTHERWISE 

THE  first  of  the  committee  reports  of  the  morn- 
ing was  that  of  the  Publication  Committee.  This 
report  is  perhaps  not  so  interesting  a  document 
now  as  it  may  be  in  later  years,  when,  with  a  cir- 
culation of  millions  weekly,  the  official  organ  will 
be  a  tremendous  power  for  Americanism  throughout 
the  country,  spreading  in  every  home,  in  every  vale 
and  hamlet  the  same  dragnet  of  Americanism  as 
the  draft  law  did,  having  in  its  tentacles  the  same 
power  for  culture,  breadth  of  experience,  and  aboli- 
tion of  sectionalism. 

In  view  of  this,  the  report  possesses  tremendous 
potentialities.  Here  it  is : 

"The  Committee  on  Publication  recommends 
that  this  caucus  of  the  American  Legion  inaugurate 
a  national  publication  which  shall  be  the  Legion's 
exponent  of  Americanism;  that  this,  the  sole  and 
only  publication  of  the  American  Legion,  be  owned 
and  directed  by  the  Legion  for  and  in  the  interest 
of  all  Americans;  that  the  Publication  Committee 

122 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  123 

be  continued  that  it  may  proceed  as  organized  with 
the  details  of  founding  this  publication,  with  the 
advice  and  under  the  control  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  American  Legion  which  shall 
add  such  specially  qualified  members  to  the  Pub- 
lication Committee  as  it  may  see  fit;  that  this  pub- 
lication shall  be  a  National,  nonpartisan,  non- 
sectional  organ  for  the  service  of  the  American 
people,  a  champion  of  Americanism  which  means 
independence,  security,  health,  education,  greater 
contentment,  and  progress  for  every  patriot,  to  be 
the  torch,  the  beacon  light  thrown  into  our  hands 
by  the  Americans  who  fell,  and  held  as  a  unique 
and  living  monument  to  that  other  legion  which 
did  not  come  back. 

"(Signed)  G.  P.  PUTNAM,  Chairman. 
' 'CHARLES  D.  KELLEY,  Secretary." 

As  an  aside  it  may  be  interesting  to  say  that 
there  were  at  least  half  a  dozen  publishers,  some 
with  veteran  journals  already  started,  in  St.  Louis 
with  the  most  alluring  offers.  Each  wanted  to 
have  his  publication  designated  as  the  official  or- 
gan Several  other  propositions  were  made,  one 
syndicate  offering  to  publish  the  magazine,  bear 
the  entire  expense,  give  the  Legion  fifty  per  cent, 
of  the  stock,  and  allow  it  to  control  the  editorial 
policy.  All  the  syndicate  wanted  was  the  official 
endorsement.  From  other  quarters  came  the 
word  that  a  million  dollars  would  be  forthcoming, 


124     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

if  such  a  large  amount  was  necessary,  in  order  to 
start  the  publication,  but  those  who  would  furnish 
it  wanted  some  return,  naturally.  However  the 
Publication  Committee  felt,  as  set  forth  in  the 
resolutions,  that  the  magazine  must  be  entirely 
owned  and  solely  controlled  by  the  Legion.  If  it 
was  worth  a  million  dollars  to  anybody  else,  it 
certainly  was  worth  conserving  in  every  possible 
way  for  the  Legion. 

Again  I  am  going  to  let  the  minutes  take  up  the 
story.  Some  of  the  details  which  they  give  in  the 
next  few  pages  are  illustrative  of  the  interest  and 
care  which  the  caucus  took  when  it  came  to  im- 
portant matters. 

SECRETARY  WOOD:  "The  Committee  on  Reso- 
lutions begs  to  submit  the  following  report: 

"  'GENERAL  PRINCIPLES  AND  CREED — Recogniz- 
ing the  supreme  obligation  of  the  citizens  to  main- 
tain our  national  honor  and  integrity,  and  being 
resolved  that  the  fruits  of  the  Great  War  shall  not 
die,  we  who  participated  in  the  war  in  order  that 
the  principles  of  justice,  freedom,  and  democracy 
may  more  completely  direct  and  influence  the 
daily  lives  of  America's  manhood,  do  announce  our 
adherence  to  the  following  principles  and  purposes : 

"'(a)  To  inculcate  the  duties  and  obligations  of 
citizenship. 

'"(b)  To  preserve  the  history  and  incidents  of 
our  participation  in  this  war. 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  125 

'"(c)  To  cement  the  ties  of  comradeship  formed 
in  service. 

* ' '  (d)  To  promote',  assist,  and  protect  the  general 
welfare  of  all  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  and 
those  dependent  upon  them. 

' ' '  (e)  To  encourage  the  maintenance  of  individual 
and  national  efficiency  to  the  end  that  the  nation 
shall  never  fail  in  its  obligations. 

'"(£)  To  maintain  the  principle  that  undivided 
and  uncompromising  support  of  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States  is  the  true  test  of  loyalty."' 
(Applause.) 


THE  CHAIRMAN:  "Do  you  desire  to  pass  on 
that  as  read,  gentlemen,  or  by  paragraphs  ?" 

MR.  JOHNSON  (Rhode  Island):  "I  move  it  be 
adopted  as  a  whole. " 

Seconded  by  Mr.  Black  of  New  York. 

COL.  HERBERT  (Mass.):  "I  would  like  to  ask 
for  information:  if  there  aren't  more  eligible  to 
membership  in  the  American  Legion  than  are  cited 
— soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  ?" 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "The  committee  understands 
that  covers  everything.  The  direct  eligibility 
comes  up  later. " 

COL.  HERBERT:  "But  before  we  adopt  this  we 
must  know  who  are  eligible  so  it  may  be  inserted 
there.  As  I  read  the  qualifications  for  membership 
the  members  of  the  enlisted  nurse  corps  are  eligible 


126     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

to  membership  in  the  American  Legion.  If  they 
are  eligible  they  must  be  included  there.  If  there 
are  any  others  they  must  be  included. " 

MR.  FISH  (of  New  York) :  "I  make  a  motion  to 
the  effect  that  this  report  be  laid  on  the  table  until 
the  constitution  has  been  adopted.  There  are 
points  in  this  resolution  that  conflict  with  the  pre- 
amble and  by-laws  of  the  constitution.  I  move 
you,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  the  first  paragraph  of  the 
resolution  as  read  be  laid  on  the  table  until  after 
the  constitution  is  adopted.  I  will  amend  my 
motion  to  that  effect. " 

COL.  HERBERT:     "I  want  to  hear  that  reread. " 

SECRETARY  WOOD:  "What  I  have  read,  and 
what  I  am  about  to  read  again,  is  the  first  paragraph 
of  the  report  of  the  Resolutions  Committee. 
There  are  many  other  paragraphs.  The  second 
one,  for  instance,  is  an  endorsement  of  the  Vic- 
tory Liberty  Loan.  If  you  lay  the  whole  report  on 
the  table  we  have  to  wait  until  later  to  consider 
resolutions  as  a  whole.  The  first  paragraph  is 
as  follows:" 

Secretary  read  first  paragraph. 

MR.  MILLIGAN:  "I  wish  to  make  a  further 
amendment  that  the  entire  report  be  laid  on  the 
table  until  after  the  constitution  has  been  adopted. 
I  don't  believe  it  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting  to  hear 
the  report  of  this  committee  in  fragments. " 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  127 

COLONEL  LEA  (of  Term.)'.  "If  this  report,  or 
any  part  of  it,  is  laid  on  the  table  it  means  final 
disposition  of  it  under  the  rules  of  the  House  of 
Representatives.  I  don't  think  we  want  to  do 
that  until  the  report  is  read.  As  a  substitute  for 
the  pending  motion  and  amendment,  I  move  that 
further  reading  and  action  of  the  report  be  sus- 
pended until  after  the  report  of  the  Committee 
on  Constitution  and  By-Laws. " 

Seconded  by  Mr.  Black  of  New  York  and  carried. 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "The  Secretary  will  now  pro- 
ceed to  read  the  resolutions." 

SECRETARY  WOOD:  "Endorsement  of  the  Vic- 
tory Liberty  Loan. 

"'  WHEREAS,  The  Government  of  the  United 
States  has  appealed  to  the  country  for  financial 
support  in  order  to  provide  the  funds  for  expendi- 
tures made  necessary  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
war,  and  to  reestablish  the  country  upon  a  peace 
basis,  therefore  be  it 

"  'RESOLVED  that  this  caucus  emphatically 
endorse  the  Victory  Liberty  Loan,  and  urges  all 
Americans  to  promote  the  success  of  the  loan  in 
every  manner  possible.1 ' 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "What  is  your  pleasure  with 
regard  to  that  resolution?" 

MR.  SULLIVAN:  "I  move  the  adoption  of  the 
resolution. " 


128     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Seconded  by  Mr.  Wickersham  of  New  York  and 
carried. 

SECRETARY  WOOD  :     '  '  Conscientious  Objectors. 

"  'RESOLVED,  that  this  caucus  go  on  record  as 
condemning  the  action  of  those  responsible  for  pro- 
tecting the  men  who  refused  full  military  service 
to  the  United  States  in  accordance  with  the  act 
of  Congress  of  May  18,  1917,  and  who  were  tried 
by  general  court-martial,  sentenced  to  prison  and 
later  fully  pardoned,  restored  to  duty  and  honor- 
ably discharged,  with  all  back  pay  and  allowances 
given  them,  and  as  condemning  further  the  I.  W. 
W.'s,  international  socialists,  and  anarchists  in 
their  effort  to  secure  the  release  of  these  men  al- 
ready pardoned,  and  those  still  in  prison,  serving 
sentence,  and  be  it  further 

"  'RESOLVED,  that  this  caucus  requests  a  full  and 
complete  investigation  by  Congress  of  the  trial 
and  conviction  of  these  parties  and  of  their  sub- 
sequent pardon. ' '  (Applause. ) 

COLONEL  HERBERT  (of  Mass.):  "I  move  you, 
sir,  that  this  convention  substitute  the  word 
'demand*  instead  of  'request'  where  it  says  'We 
request  Congress/  We  are  a  body  large  enough 
and  representative  enough  and  powerful  enough 
to  tell  Congress  what  we  want  (applause),  not  to 
ask  it,  and  I  move  the  substitution  of  the  word 
'demand'  instead  of  'request.'" 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  129 

Seconded  by  Luke  Lea  of  Tennessee. 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "The  motion  is  now  for  the 
adoption  of  the  resolution  as  read,  substituting  the 
word  'demand'  for  'request/' 

ALBERT  H.  WILSON  (of  Idaho):  "Gentlemen 
of  this  convention,  before  this  is  put  to  the  body 
of  this  house,  I  want  to  offer  a  resolution  that  the 
man  who  convicted  these  men  at  Camp  Funston 
be  permitted  to  give  the  facts  of  those  convictions 
and  the  facts  of  those  discharges  to  the  body  of  this 
house.  I  refer,  gentlemen,  to  Major  Foster,  of 
Camp  Funston,  of  the  General  Staff  at  Camp  Fun- 
ston, and  I  offer  a  resolution  to  that  effect.  Will 
you  hear  him?" 

Assent  from  the  audience. 

MR.  GASTON:     "I  second  that." 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "It  isn't  necessary  to  have  a 
resolution  to  that  effect.  The  discussion  would  be 
germane  to  the  question  before  the  house." 

MAJOR  FOSTER  (of  Missouri):  "Gentlemen, 
on  May  18,  1917,  the  Congress  of  these  United 
States  passed  an  act  defining  what  should  be  done 
in  regard  to  conscientious  objectors.  That  act, 
as  you  are  all  probably  familiar  with,  says  nothing 
about  the  I.  W.  W. — the  so-called  humanitarian, 
the  slacker,  and  the  anarchist,  and  yet  for  some  un- 
known reason  about  135  such  cattle  were  shipped 
out  to  Camp  Funston,  segregated,  were  not  re- 


130     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

quired  to  do  military  service,  were  tried  for  dis- 
obedience to  a  lawful  order  in  time  of  war,  duly 
convicted,  sentenced  to  prison,  and  a  large  majority 
of  them  pardoned  out  of  the  penitentiary  within 
two  months. 

"These  men,  and  I  want  you  to  get  the  impor- 
tance of  this,  are  not  ordinary,  poor,  misguided, 
fanatical  men,  but  the  large  number  of  them  were 
college  graduates.  Take  the  case  of  Lundy  in 
Chicago  and  Berger  and  Greenberg  and  all  of  them. 
Seven  of  them  were  cases  so  serious  that  the  court, 
of  which  I  was  a  member,  sentenced  them  to  death. 
Within  three  weeks  the  order  came  from  Washing- 
ton restoring  them  to  honorable  duty.  These  men 
who  were  dismissed  from  Leavenworth  and  who 
were  tried  by  this  court  made  the  statement  before 
the  court  to  prove  their  conscientious  scruples  that 
they  did  not  accept  pay  from  the  Government,  nor 
did  they,  but  when  they  were  dismissed  at  Port 
Leavenworth  and  honorably  restored  to  duty  and 
given  discharges  with  honor,  they  took  every  dollar 
and  cent  that  the  Government  sent  or  the  officials 
in  Washington  said  should  be  paid  to  them  and 
they  carefully  counted  it  and  it  amounted  to 
between  four  and  six  hundred  dollars  each,  and 
they  went  home  with  it. 

"You  all  know  who  is  responsible  for  this  con- 
dition. You  all  know  that  this  convention  should 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  131 

condemn  it.  And  here  is  one  more  point  I  want 
to  put  before  you  and  I  want  you  to  get  this  care- 
fully. One  of  the  men  we  tried,  Worsman,  has 
been  pardoned.  Here  is  a  letter  he  sent  out.  I 
will  not  read  it  all. 

(The  caucus  requests  him  to  read  it  all.) 
It  is  sent  out  to  the  press  and  to  everyone.    Here 
is  a  book  that  has  the  expressions  before  the  court 
that  all  these  men  made  and  they  stand  on  that  as 
being  proper. 

"This  letter  says:  'The  committee  who  sends 
you  this  letter  are,  for  the  most  part,  near  rela- 
tives or  close  friends  of  young  men  now  serving 
long  terms  in  the  disciplinary  barracks  at  Fort 
Leaven  worth  because  of  loyalty  of  principle. 
Nearly  all  of  them  are  your  fellow  workers  and 
except  for  those  in  what  we  call  the  religious  group, 
—trade  unionists — the  public  knows  little  of  their 
unhappy  fate,  even  less  than  the  other  political  or  la- 
bor prisoners  because  they  have  been  sent  to  prison 
by  military  court-martials  and  some  have  not  even 
had  the  hostile  publicity  of  a  public  trial  in  court. 
'The  war  is  over ;  whether  these  men  were  right 
or  wrong,  they  were  utterly  sincere.  Even  mili- 
tary prejudice  has  to  concede  that,  and  the 
sufferings  they  have  unflinchingly  borne  prove  it 
many  times  over,  but  the  point  for  the  country  to 
get  just  now  is  that  right  or  wrong,  they  cannot  now 


132     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

have  any  adverse  effect  upon  the  military  policy 
of  the  Government  to  keep  them  in  prison.' 
Here  is  the  dangerous  thing — 'We  are  trying  to 
educate  public  opinion,  and  particularly  labor 
opinion,  to  the  point  where  it  will  demand  the 
release  of  these  brave  and  sincere  young  men.  We 
say  "labor,"  because  we  know  when  labor  really 
demands  a  thing,  it  gets  done/  There  is  the  dan- 
gerous thing,  gentlemen,  the  direct  connecting 
up  of  the  I.  W.  W.,  the  so-called  international 
socialists  and  anarchists  who  were  tried,  convicted, 
and  later  pardoned  by  our  War  Department, — 
the  direct  connecting  up  between  that  element  and 
those  like  the  fellow  who  was  sentenced  to  prison 
and  who  is  sending  out  this  letter,  and  this  great 
and  dangerous  Bolshevism  that  is  creeping  into 
this  country  and  is,  I  am  afraid,  more  dangerous 
than  many  of  us  realize.  I  want  to  see  this  caucus 
go  on  record — don't  be  afraid — as  strong  as  you 
can  against  this  fellow.  The  officers  who  served 
on  those  courts  know  what  we  had  to  endure. 
We  had  to  treat  them  respectfully;  we  were  obliged 
to  do  that.  Let  me  tell  you  a  few  things,  if  you 
don't  know  them,  about  what  happened  in  the 
guardhouse  among  those  men.  They  would  not 
do  a  thing;  they  wouldn't  make  their  own  beds. 
They  wouldn't  flush  the  toilets  in  the  guardhouse, 
and  some  red-blooded  American  soldiers  had  to  go 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  133 

and  pull  the  chain  for  them.  I  say  you  can't  send 
out  a  message  to  these  people  too  strong  in  con- 
demnation of  this  type  and  of  the  action  of  the 
War  Department  or  whoever  is  responsible  for  the 
solace  and  the  protection  that  has  been  thrown 
around  the  man  who  hid  under  the  cloak  of  an 
act  of  Congress  that  was  designed  to  take  care  of 
the  conscientious  objectors,  and  there  is  no  con- 
scientious objector  under  that  act  except  a  man 
whose  religious  creed  forbade  him  to  take  part  in 
the  war  in  any  way.  I  thank  you/'  (Applause.) 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  " Gentlemen,  the  question 
has  been  called.  All  those  in  favor  of  the  motion 
as  amended  will  vote  *  aye. ' ' 

The  motion  was  unanimously  carried. 

The  general  comment  at  the  time  was  that  Major 
Foster's  address  summed  up  the  opinion  of  the 
caucus  on  the  War  Department's  action  in  regard 
to  the  objector,  conscientious  or  otherwise. 

The  accusation  that  the  Legion  was  being  formed 
for  political  purposes  has  been  frequently  referred 
to  in  this  account  of  the  organization  and  there 
follows  an  instance  which  shows  very  clearly  the 
attitude  of  the  delegates  toward  anything  that 
might  tend  to  give  to  the  caucus  a  political  savor. 
Just  after  Major  Foster's  address  the  chairman 
held  up  his  hand  for  silence. 


134     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

' '  One  moment  before  the  next  resolution  is  read, ' ' 
he  said:  "I  am  informed  that  one  of  the  news- 
papers of  St.  Louis  has  circulated  blanks  among 
the  delegates  asking  them  to  indicate  thereon  how 
they  intend  to  vote  in  the  next  national  election 
in  this  country.  I  would  point  out  to  those 
who  are  gathered  here  that  this  is  a  very  improper 
suggestion  and  that  the  action  should  be  repu- 
diated by  the  men  here  filling  out  none  of  these 
blanks." 

This  statement  was  greeted  both  with  anger  and 
applause,  the  former  at  the  paper's  action,  the 
latter  because  of  the  chair's  suggestion,  and  Mr. 
Wickersham  of  New  York  made  a  motion  that 
none  of  the  blanks  should  be  filled  out  and  that  no 
delegate  should  take  part  in  such  a  poll.  It  carried 
unanimously  and  with  acclamation.  The  blanks 
were  not  filled  out  and  the  men  distributing  them 
were  ordered  to  leave  the  theater,  which  they 
did. 

This  is  the  nearest  approach  to  a  poll  that  took 
place  at  the  St.  Louis  Caucus  so  far  as  I  am  able  to 
ascertain.  In  fact  it  would  have  been  quite  im- 
possible to  take  a  poll  except  in  the  theater  and  I 
have  been  assured  by  men  sitting  in  widely  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  house  that  no  such  poll  was  taken. 
The  delegates'  living  quarters  were  in  widely 
scattered  parts  of  St.  Louis  and  it  would  have  been 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  135 

impossible  to  have  got  any  large  number  of  them 
together  to  take  a  poll  except  during  the  meeting 
in  the  theater. 

Despite  this  fact,  despite  the  motion  of  Major 
Wickersham,  and  its  passage  by  acclamation,  re- 
ports were  circulated  after  the  caucus,  to  the  effect 
that  a  poll  had  been  taken  and  that  it  showed  so 
many  votes  for  this  man  and  so  many  votes  for 
that  one.  The  effect  of  that  statement,  while  not 
doing  widespread  damage,  caused  the  Legion 
leaders  a  great  deal  of  embarrassment  and  a  great 
deal  of  effort  to  correct  the  false  impression  among 
those  not  present  at  St.  Louis  to  the  effect  that  the 
caucus  had  a  political  complexion. 

Following  the  refusal  to  allow  a  poll  to  be  taken, 
the  secretary  read  the  following  resolution : 


"  WHEREAS  certain  aliens  during  the  emergency 
of  the  war  sought  to  evade  military  duty  by  reason 
of  their  status  as  aliens,  and 

"  WHEREAS,  such  an  act  indicates  a  lack  on  the 
part  of  such  aliens  of  the  proper  spirit  of  American- 
ism, therefore  be  it 

"  RESOLVED  that  this  caucus  assembled  urge 
upon  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  the 
adoption  of  such  measures  that  may  be  neces- 
sary to  bring  about  the  immediate  deportation 
from  the  United  States  for  all  time  of  these 
aliens." 


136     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

This  resolution  covered  a  subject  very  near  the 
heart  of  Sergeant  Jack  Sullivan,  the  vice-chair- 
man. He  was  on  his  feet  immediately  saying : 

"I  agree  with  the  gentleman  from  Massachu- 
setts, Comrade  Herbert,  that  this  is  not  the  time  to 
urge  upon  Congress  but  to  demand  of  Congress  and 
I  offer  you,  sir,  this  as  a  substitute  resolution : 

"WHEREAS,  there  was  a  law  passed  by  the  Con- 
gress of  these  United  States,  July,  1918,  known  as 
an  amendment  to  the  Selective  Service  Act  giving 
persons  within  the  draft  age  who  had  taken  out 
first  papers  for  American  citizenship  the  privilege 
of  turning  in  said  first  papers  to  their  local  exemp- 
tion board  and  thereby  becoming  exempt  from 
service, 

"WHEREAS,  thousands  of  men  within  draft  age 
who  had  been  in  this  country  for  many  years  and 
had  signified  their  intention  to  become  citizens, 
took  advantage  of  this  law  and  thereby  became 
exempted  from  military  service,  or  were  discharged 
from  military  service  by  reason  thereof,  and  have 
taken  lucrative  positions  in  the  mills,  shipyards, 
and  factories,  and 

"WHEREAS,  in  this  great  World  War  for  Demo- 
cracy the  rank  and  file  of  the  best  of  our  American 
manhood  have  suffered  and  sacrificed  themselves 
in  order  to  uphold  the  principles  upon  which  this 
country  was  founded  and  for  which  they  were  will- 
ing to  give  up  their  life's  blood,  if  necessary,  to 
preserve,  and 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  137 

"  WHEREAS  we,  the  American  Legion  assembled 
are  of  the  opinion  that  these  would-be  Americans 
who  turned  in  their  first  papers  to  avoid  service 
are  in  our  opinion  neither  fish,  flesh,  nor  fowl  and 
if  allowed  to  remain  in  this  country  would  con- 
taminate the  1 00%  true  American  soldiers  and 
sailors  who  will  return  to  again  engage  in  the  gain- 
ful pursuits  of  life.  Therefore,  be  it 

"RESOLVED:  That  we,  the  American  Legion  in 
convention  assembled  in  St.  Louis,  this  8th,  9th,  and 
loth  day  of  May,  1919,  numbering  millions  of  red- 
blooded  Americans,  do  demand  the  Congress  of 
these  United  States  to  immediately  enact  a  law 
to  send  these  aliens  who  withdrew  their  first  papers 
and  thereby  avoided  service,  back  to  the  country 
from  whence  they  came,  for  we  want  them  not, 
neither  do  we  need  them.  The  country  which  we 
live  in  and  were  ready  and  are  now  ready  and  will- 
ing to  fight  for  is  good  enough  for  us  and  this 
country,  which  they  live  in  and  prospered  in,  yet 
were  unwilling  to  fight  for,  is  too  damned  good  for 
them  to  remain  in.  Therefore,  be  it  further 

"RESOLVED,  that  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be 
sent  to  each  and  every  member  of  the  House  and 
Senate  of  our  United  States  and  a  copy  be  given  to 
the  public  press." 

"Respectfully  presented 

"(Signed)  Sgt.  JACK  SULLIVAN. 

"Delegate  from  Seattle,  State  of  Washington/' 

"I  move  you,  sir,  the  adoption  of  this  resolu- 
tion. " 


138     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

"Now,  gentlemen,  I  have  a  telegram  from 
Seattle  which  I  will  read.  It  is  addressed  to  Jack 
Sullivan,  St.  Louis. 

"'Executive  Board  American  Legion  of  Liberty 
authorizes  you  to  advocate  before  the  St.  Louis 
Convention  as  part  of  the  Americanization  pro- 
gram, that  the  organization  bring  its  influence  to 
bear  throughout  the  United  States  to  secure  enact- 
ment by  Congress  of  laws  making  it  possible  to 
deport  alien  slackers  who  avoided  military  service 
by  renouncing  their  citizenship  and  signing  affida- 
vits that  they  would  return  to  the  country  from 
which  they  came.  A  bill  providing  for  their  de- 
portation introduced  by  Senator  Jones  of  Washing- 
ton failed  to  pass  the  last  session  of  Congress 
because  the  demand  for  its  passage  from  the  State 
of  Washington  was  not  backed  up  by  other  States. 
Demand  upon  senators  and  representatives  from 
their  own  constituents  that  a  law  should  be  passed 
to  deport  these  slackers  would  probably  result  in 
action  by  the  special  sessions  of  Congress  of  nearly 
three  hundred  aliens  who  escaped  military  service 
in  Seattle  by  renouncing  their  right  to  become  citi- 
zens. Twenty-seven  per  cent,  were  shown  to  be 
I.  W.  W.'s  of  the  thousands  who  thus  escaped  mili- 
tary service.  Throughout  the  country  a  large 
percentage  are  probably  of  the  element  which  is 
seeking  to  undermine  American  institutions.  They 
still  remain  despite  their  affidavits  that  they  would 
leave  the  country  and  there  is  no  existing  law 
under  which  they  can  be  deported.  The  first 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  139 

move  towards  making  this  country  one  hundred 
per  cent.  American  should  be  the  elimination  of 
aliens  who  are  opposed  to  our  Government  and  in- 
stitutions and  who  poison  the  minds  of  others  by 
their  teachings.  Every  senator  and  representa- 
tive should  be  urged  to  back  legislation  for  the 
elimination  of  this  element  and  we  hope  that  this 
work  will  be  adopted  by  the  convention  as  part  of 
the  national  program. 

"'  (Signed)  American  Legion  of  Liberty, 

"' NORMAN  E.  COLES,  Secretary."1 

When  Sullivan  finished  reading,  he  began  one 
of  the  most  stirring  addresses  made  before  the 
convention : 

1  'Now  let's  not  be  afraid  to  put  the  cards  on  the 
table  and  say  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
that  we  are  not  afraid  to  trample  on  the  toes  of 
the  diplomats  of  these  alleged  neutral  countries 
who  do  not  want  legislation  of  this  kind  to  pass," 
Sullivan  plead.  "We  have  the  interest  of  the 
man  who  donned  the  khaki  and  the  blue  and  when 
the  ships  bring  the  boys  from  over  there,  they 
must  take  back  these  alien  slackers.  We  would 
be  derelict  in  our  duty  to  the  boys  who  gave  their 
all  when  they  went  over  the  top ;  we  would  be  un- 
true to  ourselves  and  the  institutions  and  prin- 
ciples for  which  we  fought  if  we  did  not  see  to  it 
that  these  people  were  sent  back. 


140     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

"I  was  born  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts  and 
I  was  taught  that  citizenship  meant  something. 
As  a  boy  I  went  out  West  where  I  learned  that 
American  citizenship  meant  something  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  West. 

"To-day  we  are  here  from  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. We  are  not  from  any  section  alone,  because 
we  are  all  Americans.  This  is  an  organization 
of  Americans.  This  should  be  a  country  of  Amer- 
icans and  if  our  citizenship  means  something,  the 
swine  who  come  from  other  countries  should  be 
taught  that  it  means  something  like  what  McCrae 
said: 

"  *  When  from  failing  hands  we  throw  the  torch  to 

you, 

Be  yours  to  hold  it  high; 
If  ye  break  faith  with  us  who  die, 
We  shall  not   sleep  though  poppies  grow  in 
Flanders1  field. ' 

4  *  Let's  make  this  unanimous  and  do  it  now  and 
say  to  the  boys  in  Siberia  and  France  that  we  are 
going  to  see  to  it  when  they  get  back  here  that 
those  damned  alien  slackers  are  not  going  to  be 
here,  or  if  they  are,  they  are  going  to  be  on  the 
dock  at  Hoboken  to  go  back  to  their  own  coun- 
tries because  they  don't  belong  here  and  we  are 
not  going  to  allow  them  to  remain. " 


"Jack"  Sullivan  of  Seattle 
First  Vice-Chairman  of  the  St.  Louis  Caucus 


Chaplain  J.  W.  Inzer  of  Alabama 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  141 

Sullivan  was  seated  amid  prolonged  cheering; 
it  was  his  big  slap  at  Bolshevism.  When  Colonel 
Lindsley  restored  order  Colonel  Ralph  Cole  of 
Ohio  was  recognized. 

"The  delegation  from  Ohio  has  authorized  me 
to  second  this  motion/*  he  said.  "This  seems  to 
be  a  unanimous  caucus.  There  is  harmony  here. 
The  most  impressive  fact  in  relation  to  this  as- 
sembly is  the  militant  spirit  of  Americanism  that 
has  been  manifested.  I  chanced  to  be  Assistant 
Adjutant  of  the  37th  Division  when  the  time  came 
for  the  naturalization  of  aliens  who  were  in  the 
American  Army.  Thousands  and  thousands  of 
young  aliens  came  up  and  raised  up  their  right 
hand  and  pledged  fidelity  to  the  American  Con- 
stitution, and  to  fight  for  the  supremacy  of  the 
American  flag,  but,  there  was  a  certain  small 
element,  a  certain  small  percentage  that  refused 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  they  appealed  to 
the  Constitution  and  their  rights  under  the  law 
and  they  were  exempted  from  military  service. 
And  I  say  to  you,  gentlemen  of  this  convention,  any 
alien  that  will  appeal  to  the  law  in  order  to  avoid  mili- 
tary duty  has  no  right  to  the  opportunity  of  peace 
in  America/'  Here  there  was  prolonged  applause. 

"There  was  an  outbreak  in  the  State  of  Ohio  of 
Bolshevism  a  few  days  ago,  but  I  want  you  gentle- 
men to  know  that  it  was  put  down.  It  was  hit  by 


142     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

the  soldiers  who  returned  from  France,  the  rank 
and  file  of  our  boys. 

"Now,  as  Mr.  Sullivan  has  suggested,  let  it  not 
be  said  that  when  these  boys  that  raised  their  right 
hand  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Ameri- 
can flag  return,  that  these  contemptible  skunks  that 
demanded  exemption  under  the  law  shall  occupy 
the  positions,  which  these  truly  loyal  men  should 
have.  Let's  give  those  positions  to  the  returning 
American  soldiers  and  the  returning  alien  soldiers 
that  fought  for  the  American  flag  and  helped  us 
win  the  great  victory. "  The  applause  given 
Sullivan  was  repeated. 

Then  the  "Silver  Lining, "  Chaplain  Inzer, 
strode  upon  the  stage.  This  time  he  was  a  very 
stern  Silver  Lining,  and  what  he  had  to  say  he 
said  with  a  vigor  which  characterized  his  speeches 
all  during  the  convention. 

"I  want  to  offer  an  amendment,"  he  said. 
"Mr.  Sullivan's  resolution  does  not  cover  the 
whole  ground.  As  Naturalization  Officer  of  the 
I4th  Infantry,  I  happen  to  be  observing  enough  to 
know  that  there  are  other  men  that  ought  to  be 
included  in  this  list.  Often  we  called  certain 
foreigners  together  who  had  been  drafted  and  said, 
'Now,  men,  we  are  going  to  go  overseas  in  a  short 
while.  How  long  have  you  been  in  this  country?' 

"One said,  'fourteen years.' 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  143 

"  'How  long  have  you  been  here?'  to  another. 

'"I  have  been  here  so  and  so,'  he  answered. 

"'All  right,  now/  we  said,  'this  has  been  your 
country.  If  we  hadn't  gone  to  war,  you  would 
have  expected  to  be  here. ' 

"  'But  we  want  to  go  home  now.' 

"'If  you  go  home  will  you  fight  for  your  coun- 
try?' 

"'We  don't  know.' 

"And  they  absolutely  refused  to  take  out  citizen- 
ship papers.  How  do  we  know  them  ?  As  Naturali- 
zation Officer  I  marked  on  every  one  of  those 
papers:  'This  man,  though  he  has  been  here  for 
four  years  or  ten  years  refused  naturalization  in 
the  hope  that  he  might  avoid  overseas  service.' 
Now,  then,  I  move  that  we  include  in  that  motion 
that  the  files  be  gone  through  and  every  man  who 
refused  citizenship,  who  was  a  native  of  any  other 
country,  but  adopted  this  country  and  refused  to 
take  out  the  citizenship  papers  we  offered  him, 
after  he  had  been  brought  into  the  army  by  the 
draft,  also  be  deported." 

Before  the  applause  began  Colonel  Luke  Lea 
had  the  floor.  He  is  tall  and  imposing  and  a 
powerful  speaker. 

"I  want  to  see  this  made  a  complete  and  thor- 
ough job,  and  to  that  end  I  desire  to  offer  a  further 
amendment,"  he  said.  "We  further  demand  the 


144     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

immediate  deportation  of  every  alien  enemy  who, 
during  the  war,  was  interned,  whether  such  alien 
enemy  be  now  interned  or  has  been  paroled.  I 
merely  want  to  say  this:  That  any  alien  enemy 
who  is  too  dangerous  to  be  at  large  and  bear  the 
burdens  of  war,  is  too  dangerous  to  be  at  large  and 
participate  in  the  blessings  of  peace/' 

This  brought  down  the  house.  It  was  what 
everybody  thought  and  wanted.  It  was  what 
everybody  had  hoped  for  since  the  very  first  day 
during  the  war  that  the  Department  of  Justice 
had  made  its  first  internments.  There  have  been 
all  sorts  of  stories  telling  about  these  interned 
aliens  getting  rooms  with  baths,  tennis  courts, 
swimming  pools,  and  playgrounds,  and  everyone 
had  consistently  hoped  that  they  would  all  be 
sent  back  to  Germany  or  Austria  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment  after  the  war.  The  same  hope 
was  expressed  in  regard  to  certain  Scandinavians 
and  Hollanders  here  who  were  active  in  behalf  of 
Germany.  One  thing  is  certain  and  that  is  that 
none  of  the  delegates  present  were  opposed  to  this 
enemy  alien  deportation,  or  if  they  were  they  didn't 
or  couldn't  make  themselves  heard  above  the 
thunderous  approbation. 

Chaplain  Inzer  at  this  juncture  jumped  to  his 
feet  and  heightened  the  applause  by  shouting, 
44  There  are  four  million  men  back  of  this  organiza- 


Objectors— Conscientious  and  Otherwise  145 

tion.  If  I  were  a  Bolshevik,  I'd  pack  my  grip 
and  beat  it." 

The  culmination  of  this  particular  phase  of  the 
caucus  was  most  dramatic.  A  wounded  soldier 
on  crutches,  and  bearing  two  wound  stripes  on  his 
arm,  was  helped  to  the  stage  beside  the  chairman. 
"I  am  Private  Sossin  of  Kentucky, "  he  shouted. 
"I  was  born  and  reared  in  Poland,  and  came  to  this 
country  and  began  to  enjoy  all  the  freedom  of  the 
American  Constitution  when  I  was  thirty-seven 
years  old.  I  left  my  business  and  my  family  to 
fight  for  this  country.  And  if  any  of  my  native 
countrymen  are  so  despicable  as  not  to  want  to 
fight  for  the  grandest  flag  the  world  has  ever  seen, 
the  flag  which  gives  freedom  to  all  who  are  op- 
pressed, I  say,  damn  him  and  kick  him  out  of  here 
so  that  we  can  show  that  we  despise  such  slackers/' 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "All  those  in  favor  of  the 
motion  as  finally  amended  will  vote  '  Aye. ' ' '  That 
"Aye"  shook  the  theater. 

The  caucus  then  passed  a  resolution  that  every 
naturalized  citizen  convicted  under  the  Espionage 
Act  should  have  his  citizenship  revoked  and  should 
be  deported. 

Another  telling  blow  for  Americanism ! 

The  caucus  next  went  on  record  with  a  resolu- 
tion calling  for  the  protection  of  the  uniform. 
Those  firms  and  individuals  who  had  used  the 


146     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

uniform  as  a  method  of  peddling  their  wares  were 
scored  in  the  resolution  and  it  was  the  sense  of  the 
motion  that  everything  possible  should  be  done  to 
prevent  panhandlers  and  peddlers  on  the  streets 
wearing  the  uniform  of  the  United  States. 

The  caucus  also  indorsed  Secretary  Lane's 
plan  for  the  "Reclamation  of  arid,  swamp,  and 
cut-over  timber  lands."  The  resolution  to  that 
effect  follows  in  full : 


1  'WHEREAS,  the  reclamation  of  arid,  swamp,  and 
cut-over  timber  lands  is  one  of  the  great  construc- 
tive problems  of  immediate  interest  to  the  nation ; 
and 

"WHEREAS,  one  of  the  questions  for  immediate 
consideration  is  that  of  presenting  to  discharged 
soldiers  and  sailors  an  opportunity  to  establish 
homes  and  create  for  themselves  a  place  in  the 
field  of  constructive  effort ;  and 

"WHEREAS,  one  of  the  purposes  for  which  the 
formation  of  the  American  Legion  is  contemplated 
is  to  take  an  energetic  interest  in  all  constructive 
measures  designed  to  promote  the  happiness  and 
contentment  of  the  people,  and  to  actively  en- 
courage all  proper  movements  of  a  general  nature 
to  assist  the  men  of  the  army  and  navy  in  solving 
the  problems  of  wholesome  existence;  and 

"WHEREAS,  the  Department  of  the  Interior  and 
the  Reclamation  Service  have  been  engaged  in 
formulating  and  presenting  to  the  country  broad, 


Objectors — Conscientious  and  Otherwise  147 

constructive  plans  for  the  reclamation  of  arid, 
swamp,  and  cut-over  timber  lands : 

"NOW,    THEREFORE,    BE   IT  RESOLVED:      By  the 

caucus  of  delegates  of  the  American  Legion  in 
convention  assembled,  in  the  City  of  Saint  Louis, 
Missouri,  that  we  endorse  the  efforts  heretofore 
made  for  the  reclamation  of  lands,  and  we  re- 
spectfully urge  upon  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  the  adoption  at  an  early  date  of  broad  and 
comprehensive  legislation  for  economic  reclama- 
tion of  all  lands  susceptible  of  reclamation  and 
production."  •* 


CHAPTER  X 

THE   REEMPLOYMENT  PROBLEM 

WE  are  now  coming  to  the  consideration  of  a 
subject  that  was  nearer  to  the  heart  of  every  dele- 
gate than  any  other.  That  is  the  reemployment 
of  one-time  service  men.  This  matter  is  of  the 
most  intimate  and  direct  concern  to  the  Legion 
and  its  leaders  and  because  of  its  importance  I 
believe  the  details  of  the  discussion  are  sufficiently 
interesting  to  permit  me  to  quote  them  verbatim 
from  the  minutes. 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "The  secretary  will  read  the 
next  resolution. " 

SECRETARY  WOOD:  "Reemployment  of  ex- 
service  men. " 

"WHEREAS,  one  of  the  most  important  questions 
of  readjustment  and  reconstruction  is  the  question 
of  employment  of  the  returning  and  returned 
soldiers,  and 

"WHEREAS,  no  principle  is  more  sound  than 
that  growing  out  of  the  general  patriotic  attitude 
toward  the  returning  soldier,  vouchsafing  to  him 

148 


The  Reexnployment  Problem  149 

return  to  his  former  employment  or  to  a  better 
job,  therefore,  be  it 

" RESOLVED:  That  the  American  Legion  in  its 
first  national  caucus  assembled,  declares  to  the 
people  of  the  United  States  that  no  act  can  be 
more  unpatriotic  in  these  most  serious  days  of 
readjustment  and  reconstruction  than  the  viola- 
tion of  this  principle  announced  which  pledges 
immediate  reemployment  to  the  returned  soldiers, 
and  be  it  further 

"RESOLVED:  That  the  American  Legion  in  its 
national  caucus  assembled  does  hereby  declare  it- 
self as  supporting  in  every  proper  way  the  efforts 
of  the  ex-service  men  to  secure  reemployment, 
and  recommends  that  simple  patriotism  requires 
that  ex-soldiers  or  ex-sailors  and  ex-marines  be 
given  preference  whenever  additional  men  are  to 
be  employed  in  any  private  or  public  enterprise, 
and  be  it  further 

"RESOLVED:  That  the  American  Legion  rec- 
ommends to  Congress  the  prompt  enactment  of  a 
program  for  internal  improvement,  having  in  view 
the  necessity  therefor  and  as  an  incident  the  ab- 
sorption of  the  surplus  labor  of  the  country,  giving 
preference  to  discharged  ex-service  men. " 

MR.  WALSH  (Pittsburgh):  "I  move,  Mr.  Chair- 
man, that  we  adopt  the  resolution/' 

The  motion  was  seconded  by  Colonel  Jones, 
of  Washington,  D.  C. 

MR.  LEVEREE:  "Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen 


150     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

of  the  Convention,  I  desire  to  present  to  you  a 
substitute  for  this  resolution.  As  one  who  has 
been  endeavoring  to  give  a  post-war  service  to  these 
men  who  are  coming  back  here  and  need  to  be 
replaced  in  the  industries  of  this  country,  as  a 
volunteer  dollar-a-year  man  in  the  United  States 
Employment  Service  and  one  who  has  accom- 
plished results  in  the  work  to  the  extent  that  the 
bulletin  of  the  National  Chamber  of  Commerce 
has  commented  on  the  work,  I  desire  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  the  resolution  as  pre- 
sented is  not  concrete.  It  says  nothing.  It  talks 
in  generalities,  and  I  want  to  present  to  you  a  con- 
crete proposition  based  on  the  experience  of  the 
Bureau  in  New  Orleans/' 

"WHEREAS,  it  is  desirable  both  for  the  welfare 
of  the  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  now  rapidly 
being  discharged  from  the  service  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  for  the  industrial  readjust- 
ment of  the  country  that  the  process  of  returning 
these  men  to  productive  occupations  in  civil  life 
be  speeded  up  as  much  as  possible; 

"AND  WHEREAS,  by  reason  of  the  failure  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  to  appropriate  funds 
for  the  purpose  the  said  process  has  been  retarded 
and  left  to  private  initiative;  now,  therefore,  be  it 

"RESOLVED:  That  the  American  Legion  in 
caucus  assembled  calls  upon  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  to  promptly  appropriate  funds  to 


The  Reemployment  Problem  151 

be  administered  for  the  benefit  of  existing  coor- 
dinated Bureaus  for  the  Employment  of  Returning 
Soldiers,  Sailors,  and  Marines,  to  the  end  that 
there  may  be  no  interruption  in  the  service  now 
being  rendered  and  that  it  may  be  broadened  and 
speeded  up,  be  it  further 

1 '  RESOLVED  :  That  each  local  post  or  organiza- 
tion of  the  American  Legion  is  urged  during  the 
period  of  demobilization  to  constitute  itself  a 
committee  of  the  whole,  which  shall  cooperate 
with  the  local  Employment  Bureau  and  shall 
establish  and  maintain  a  liaison  between  such 
Bureau  and  every  employer  in  the  community 
through  members  of  the  local  post  or  organization 
who  are  already  employed  in  such  establishment 
to  the  end  that  it  may  be  made  easy  for  the  em- 
ployer to  avail  himself  of  the  service  of  the  Bureau 
by  communicating  with  someone  in  his  own  es- 
tablishment, and  that  every  soldier,  sailor,  and 
marine  already  replaced  in  industry  may  have  an 
opportunity  to  assist  his  comrades  to  become 
likewise/' 

"Gentlemen,  this  is  the  crux  of  that  whole busi- 
ness^getting  somebody  close  to  the  employer 
where  you  can  bring  about  that  liaison  which  is 
suggested  in  this  substitute  motion. " 

The  motion  to  adopt  the  substitute  resolution 
was  made  by  Mr.  Leveree  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Luss. 

MR.  DESMOND  (of  Pennsylvania):   "What  has 


152     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

been  said,  in  my  estimation,  is  not  comprehensive 
enough.  In  the  city  of  Philadelphia  which  is 
known  as  the  Cradle  of  Liberty,  when  the  men 
who  had  given  up  positions  in  the  educational 
system — I  mean  teachers — returned  from  the  serv- 
ice of  their  country  they  were  not,  as  promised, 
given  the  exact  positions  which  they  left.  Neither 
were  they  given  positions  of  parallel  importance. 
They  were  actually  demoted  in  grade  so  that  these 
motions  do  not  cover  such  circumstances.  In  many 
cases,  in  municipalities,  men  have  returned  from 
the  service  and  have  been  forced  to  take  positions 
not  of  a  parallel  grade  but  positions  of  a  lower 
grade. 

"Men,  Americanism  depends  on  America's 
school  systems,  and  if  the  ones  who  are  directing 
our  school  systems  are  so  unpatriotic  as  to  demote 
those  who  go  forth  to  serve  their  country,  what  is 
going  to  become  of  America  and  Americanism? 
And  I  wish  to  make  an  amendment  to  the  effect 
that  municipalities  and  boards  of  education  in 
those  municipalities  be  forced  to  give  men  their 
parallel  positions  if  not  positions  of  better  grade 
and  that  in  no  instance  will  they  be  allowed  to 
demote  a  man  because  he  has  gone  forth  to  serve 
his  country.  I  put  that  forward  as  an  amendment, 
that  the  municipal  governments  and  boards  of 
education  in  our  municipalities  be  forced  to  give 


The  Reemployment  Problem          153 

men  positions  of  equal  grade  if  they  cannot  give 
better  grade. " 

MR.  SIMINGTON  (of  Washington):  "I  speak  in 
opposition  to  that  amended  resolution.  In  my 
State  I  represent  ten  thousand  organized  men.  In 
my  State  the  present  system  has  proven  a  failure. 
The  organization  that  I  represent  handles  an  em- 
ployment bureau  that  places  350  service  men  a 
week  in  permanent  positions  and  150  in  temporary 
employment,  and  I  say  to  you  that  that  record  is 
far  and  above  the  record  of  the  U.  S.  Replacement 
Bureau.  It  is  a  proven  failure.  Gentlemen,  I 
believe  that  it  is  'For  George  to  do' — and  we  are 
George. 

"The  service  man  wishes  to  take  care  of  himself 
and  his  own.  It  is  for  the  service  man  to  handle 
his  own  problems  and  I  suggest  as  an  amendment 
— I  am  not  sure  of  my  being  in  order  in  offering 
an  amendment  to  an  amended  amendment,  but  I 
suggest  that  it  be  the  sense  of  this  meeting  that 
Congress  assist  the  American  Legion  in  taking 
care  of  its  own  in  the  matter  of  employment  and 
that  it  do  not  use  civilians  to  do  the  work." 
(Applause.) 

The  motion  was  seconded. 

MR.  HILL  (of  Pennsylvania):  "The  original 
resolution  that  is  before  the  convention,  I  am 
frank  to  say,  has  been  forwarded  to  me  by  a  soldier 


154     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

from  Allegheny  County,  who  walked  the  streets  of 
Pittsburgh  for  eight  or  nine  weeks  pleading  this 
principle.  A  resolution  adopted  by  the  Mothers  of 
Democracy  was  sufficient  for  him  to  get  back  his 
job,  because  he  held  a  position  as  a  county  employee 
of  Allegheny  County  and  he  invoked  this  principle 
and  vitalized  every  military  organization  in  Alle- 
gheny County,  and  by  means  of  that  he  got  back 
his  job  and  his  back  salary  and  his  mother's  allow- 
ance which  was  cut  off  since  January  I,  1918.  This 
resolution  was  originally  presented  by  me  as  a 
member  of  the  National  Resolutions  Committee 
from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  The  National 
Resolutions  Committee  appointed  a  subcommittee 
of  which  I  was  a  member,  a  committee  of  three,  to 
consider  this  and  refer  it  back  to  the  National 
Resolutions  Committee.  That  committee  passed 
favorably  upon  it  and  the  National  Resolutions 
Committee  passed  it. 

"Now,  if  that  resolution,  as  it  stands  before  the 
house,  was  sufficient  to  get  a  job  back  for  him, 
playing  almost  a  lone  hand,  surely  it  is  sufficient 
for  any  man  here  or  for,  this  American  Legion,  for 
all  it  provides  for,  and  all  that  is  necessary  to  be 
done  is  the  simple  patriotism  with  the  American 
Legion  in  back  of  it  which  can  place  its  hands  on 
the  shoulder  of  any  substantial  employer  and  say, 
'Do  you  wish  to  rectify  yourself  on  this  thing 


The  Reemployment  Problem  155 

called  " patriotism?"  Do  you  wish  to  give  the 
soldier  back  his  job  who  presents  to  you  a  meri- 
torious case?  We  give  you  a  chance.  If  you  do 
not  take  it  we  will  publish  this  thing  and  you  will 
go  down  to  contumely  and  stultification. " 

MR.  KNOX:  "Gentlemen,  I  am  speaking  on 
behalf  of  the  Resolutions  Committee.  We  spent 
all  day  yesterday  listening  to  such  requests  as  this. 
Our  final  calculated  judgment  is  represented  in  the 
resolutions  as  presented.  We  found  in  the  dis- 
cussion that  there  was  opposition  to  an  endorse- 
ment of  the  United  States  Federal  replacement 
division.  (Applause.)  And  so  we  determined 
that  the  language  as  adopted  covered  the  cast. 
We  proposed  to  create  in  this  organization  a 
reemployment  bureau  of  our  own,  and  the  reso- 
lution as  presented  is  all  the  support  that  bureau 
needs. 

"I  move  you,  sir,  that  all  the  substitutes  for  the 
original  resolution  be  laid  on  the  table. " 

The  motion  was  seconded. 

MR.  BENNETT  CLARK:  "I  simply  want  to  call 
attention  to  the  fact  that  under  the  rules  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  that  if  you  lay  all  amend- 
ments on  the  table  it  carries  the  entire  proposition 
to  the  table  and  I  don't  believe  this  convention 
wants  to  do  that. " 

MR.  KNOX  :    ' '  I  ask  a  ruling  on  that,  Mr.  Chair- 


156    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

man.  If  we  lay  all  these  substitutes  for  this  reso- 
lution on  the  table  will  that  kill  the  resolution  ?" 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  " Unless  you  dispense  with 
the  rules. " 

MR.  KNOX:  "Mr.  Chairman,  I  move  you,  sir, 
the  suspension  of  the  rules  to  a  sufficient  extent 
so  that  we  may  table  the  substitutes  which  have 
been  offered  to  the  original  resolution  offered  by 
the  committee/' 

Motion  seconded  by  Mr.  Bond  of  New  York 
and  carried. 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "The  question  now  comes 
back  to  the  original  resolution. " 

The  question  was  called  for  and  it  was  adopted. 

MR.  ACKLEY:  "Mr.  Chairman,  I  have  another 
amendment  to  offer. " 

THE  CHAIRMAN  :  * '  It's  too  late.  The  secretary 
will  read  the  next  resolution. " 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE   DISREGARD  OF   SELF 

I  FEEL  almost  as  if  the  next  matter  under  dis- 
cussion should  have  not  only  a  special  chapter 
devoted  to  it  but  be  printed  in  large  type  and  in 
distinctive  ink,  for  I  do  not  believe  that  anything 
so  thoroughly  gave  evidence  of  the  utter  disregard 
of  self  in  the  Legion  as  did  the  flat  refusal  of  the 
delegates  to  tolerate  what  has  been  called  in  some 
quarters,  the  "Pay  Grab." 

The  minutes  read : 

SECRETARY  WOOD  (Reading):  " ADDITIONAL 
PAY  FOR  ENLISTED  MEN.  " 

"WHEREAS,  the  financial  sacrifice  of  the  enlisted 
persons  in  the  military  and  naval  service  of  the 
United  States  in  the  world  war  was  altogether  in 
excess  of  that  of  any  other  class  of  our  citizenship, 
and 

"WHEREAS,  the  great  majority  of  these  persons 
left  lucrative  employment  upon  joining  the  colors, 
and 

"WHEREAS,  this  direct  financial  sacrifice  was 
157 


158    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

made  at  a  time  when  men,  many  of  them  aliens 
who  thrived  in  safety  at  home,  were  enjoying  the 
advantages  of  an  exceptionally  high  war  wage,  and 

"  WHEREAS,  the  service  which  involved  this 
sacrifice  was  a  Federal  service  in  defense  of  our 
national  honor  and  national  security,  therefore  be  it 

"RESOLVED:  That  the  delegates  to  this  caucus 
of  those  who  served  with  the  colors  in  the  world 
war  urge  upon  the  members  of  the  66th  Congress 
the  justice  and  propriety  of  appropriating  a  suffi- 
cient sum  from  the  National  Treasury  to  pay  every 
person  who  served  in  the  enlisted  personnel  in  the 
military  or  naval  service  for  a  period  of  at  least 
six  months  between  April  6,  1917,  and  November 
n,  1918,  six  months  additional  pay  at  the  rate  of 
$30.00  a  month,  and  to  those  persons  who  served 
less  than  six  months'  in  the  military  or  naval  service 
between  April  6,  1917,  and  November  II,  1918,  the 
sum  of  $15.00  per  month  for  each  month  so  served. 
This  bonus  to  be  in  addition  to  any  pay  or  bonus 
previously  granted  or  authorized  and  to  be  paid 
upon  and  subject  to  the  honorable  discharge  of 
any  such  person. " 

MR.  KNOX:  "Mr.  Chairman,  I  move  the  adop- 
tion of  the  resolution  as  read.  " 

The  motion  was  seconded. 

MR.  McGRATH  (New  Jersey) :  "I  served  in  the 
navy,  and  I  simply  want  to  call  attention  to  the 
fact  that  this  resolution  says  that  the  money  shall 
be  paid  upon  the  honorable  discharge  of  the 


The  Disregard  of  Self  159 

soldiers  and  sailors,  but  in  the  navy  we  are  only 
released  from  active  duty  and  I  will  not  be  dis- 
charged for  three  years,  neither  will  any  of  the 
other  three  hundred  thousand  naval  reserves.  I 
therefore  move  that  the  resolution  be  amended  to 
say  that  so  far  as  the  navy  is  concerned  that  the 
money  shall  be  paid  upon  their  release  from  active 
duty  or  their  honorable  discharge. " 

The  committee  accepted  the  amendment. 

THE  CHAIRMAN:  "Before  I  put  this  motion  I 
want  to  make  this  suggestion  to  you,  that  this  is 
a  pretty  serious  matter  that  you  are  considering. 
It  is  for  this  caucus,  of  course,  in  its  wisdom  to 
determine  that  which  it  wants  to  do,  but  up  to  this 
time,  it  has  assumed  continuously  a  most  splen- 
didly high  and  patriotic  and  unselfish  attitude 
toward  this  whole  question.  It  has  dealt  imme- 
diately and  fairly  and  positively  with  regard  to 
employment  problems,  but  I  suggest  to  you  that 
we  ought  to  consider  very  carefully  whether  we 
want  to  go  on  record  as  a  caucus,  as  provided  in 
this  resolution,  and  I  would  prefer  not  to  put  the 
question  until  you  have  considered  it  further." 

The  action  of  the  caucus  was  foreshadowed  by 
the  applause  which  it  gave  to  Colonel  Lindsley's 
caution.  Fully  a  half  dozen  men  jumped  to  their 
feet  and  waved  their  hands  wildly  demanding 
recognition. 


160    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Colonel  Roosevelt  arose  from  his  seat  with  the 
New  York  delegation,  and  Chairman  Lindsley 
recognized  him. 

"Gentlemen,  I  want  to  draw  your  attention  to 
one  feature  of  this  question/'  he  said.  The 
Colonel  spoke  very  deliberately  and  very  distinctly, 
reminding  a  great  many  of  his  auditors  of  his 
father  because  of  the  way  he  snapped  his  words 
out.  "I  heartily  agree  with  what  the  chair  has 
said  so  far.l  I  want  you  to  get  this  particular 
reaction  on  the  matter  and  I  want  to  relate  to  you 
a  little  incident  that  happened  coming  out  on  the 
train  from  Ne*w  York.  One  of  the  delegates  on  the 
same  train  with  me  said  that  the  conductor  stopped 
and  talked  to  him  and  among  other  things  said, 
'Young  Teddy  Roosevelt  is  up  ahead.  He's  going 
out  to  St.  Louis  to  try  to  get  some  of  the  soldiers 
together  to  sandbag  something  out  of  the  Govern- 
ment ! '  Sandbag  something  out  of  the  Government! ' ' 
The  young  Colonel's  frame  shook  with  emotion 
as  he  repeated  that  sentence.  "Do  you  men  get 
the  idea  of  what  he  thought  we  were  trying  to 
do?  We  want  everything  that  is  right  for  us  to 
have,  but  we  are  not  going  to  try  to  sandbag  the 
Government  out  of  anything;  primarily  we  are 
going  to  try  to  put  something  into  the  Govern- 
ment. In  thinking  over  this  resolution  think  of 
that." 


I 


Fred  Humphrey  of  New  Mexico 

A  Vice-Chairman 


Private  V.  C.  Calhoun,  of  Connecticut  and  the  Marine  Corps 
He  is  a  Vice- Chair  man 


The  Disregard  of  Self  161 

The  cheer  which  greeted  this  suggestion  was  so 
resounding  and  the  opinion  of  the  caucus  so  posi- 
tive on  this  question  that  Mr.  Gordon  of  Connec- 
ticut, a  member  of  the  committee  that  framed  the 
resolution,  moved  that  it  should  be  laid  on  the 
table. 

The  thunderous  "Aye"  which  tabled  this  reso- 
lution might  well  be  recorded  in  letters  of  gold.  I 

It  showed  the  utter  unselfishness  of  the  American 
doughboy,  gob,  and  leatherneck.  He  had  followed 
Colonel  Roosevelt's  advice:  he  refused  to  sandbag 
the  Government  out  of  anything,  and  this  action 
gives  the  best  possible  basis  for  the  procedure  to 
put  something  into  the  Government. 

In  view  of  the  action  of  certain  newspapers, 
organizations,  and  individuals  in  advocating  that 
six  months'  pay  should  be  given  to  the  returned 
service  man,  I  wonder  if  there  are  not  still  a  great 
many  of  them  who  are  still  puzzled  over  why  the 
Legion  refused  to  endorse  this  movement.  There 
must  be  scores  of  them,  dozens  of  them  who  were 
not  present  at  the  St.  Louis  Caucus,  to  catch  its 
spirit  and  who  have  not  carefully  considered  just 
what  impression  such  a  demand  on  the  part  of 
former  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  would  create 
on  the  rest  of  the  country. 

Why  shouldn't  six  months'  pay  be  given  to 
every  man  who  did  his  bit  in  the  war  with  Ger- 


1 62    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

many?  In  the  first  place,  these  men  who  have 
returned  from  the  war  have  begotten  for  them- 
selves the  utmost  respect  and  affection  from  those 
who  could  not  go.  The  civilian  forms  the  majority 
of  our  people.  Because  of  the  esteem  before- 
mentioned,  he  is  willing  to  grant  almost  anything 
within  reason  to  the  service  man  who  risked  so 
much  in  defense  of  the  country.  It  is  to  the 
interest  of  the  service  man  to  make  the  civilian 
population  feel  that  he  does  not  want  to  get  some- 
thing for  nothing  but  that,  rather,  he  would  still 
prefer  to  give  his  best  to  the  country  in  peaceful 
times  in  the  same  spirit  that  he  manifested  in  war 
times — an  utter  disregard  of  self. 

Had  the  Legion  endorsed  this  resolution,  the 
general  consensus  would  have  been,  "  There  are  the 
soldiers  getting  together  to  make  demands.  Their 
organization  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  an 
association  formed  to  get  something  out  of  the 
Treasury/'  Therefore,  when  the  service  men,  as 
a  unit,  came  to  demand  something  vitally  neces- 
sary for  the  good  of  the  country,  it  is  possible  that 
they  might  be  answered:  "We  have  paid  you  in 
money  and  have  your  receipt  and  that  will  be  all 
for  you. " 

This  Legion  can,  must,  and  will  be  an  inspiration 
and  a  guiding  spirit  because  it  is  composed  of  men 
who  have  been  willing  to  sacrifice  self  for  the  good 


The  Disregard  of  Self  163 

of  the  country.  For  that  they  have  obtained 
the  affection  of  their  world  and  just  so  long  as 
they  are  willing  to  continue  to  manifest  that  spirit 
will  they  retain  that  affection. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE   CLOSING  HOURS 

THE  next  resolution  to  be  passed  was  that  con- 
cerning " Disability  Pay."  That  resolution,  as 
passed  read : 

"WHEREAS,  under  the  provisions  of  the  existing 
law  an  obvious  injustice  is  done  to  the  civilian  who 
entered  the  military  service,  and  as  an  incident, 
too,  that  service  is  disabled,  therefore, 

"BE  IT  RESOLVED:  That  this  caucus  urge 
upon  Congress  the  enactment  of  legislation,  which 
will  place  upon  an  equal  basis  as  to  retirement  for 
disability  incurred  in  active  service  during  the  war 
with  the  Central  Powers  of  Europe,  all  officers 
and  enlisted  personnel  who  served  in  the  military 
and  naval  forces  of  the  United  States  during  said 
war,  irrespective  of  whether  they  happened  to 
serve  in  the  Regular  Army,  or  in  the  National 
Guard  or  National  Army. " 

!      Then  followed  the  passage  of  the  War  Risk  In- 
surance Resolution.     This  read: 

"WHEREAS,  one  of  the  purposes  of  this  organi- 
zation is:  'To  protect,  assist,  and  promote  the 

164 


The  Closing  Hours  165 

general  welfare  of  all  persons  in  the  military  and 
naval  service  of  the  United  States  and  those  de- 
pendent upon  them,'  and, 

"WHEREAS,  owing  to  the  speedy  demobilization 
of  the  men  in  the  service,  who  had  not  had  their 
rights,  privileges,  and  benefits  under  the  War  Risk 
Insurance  Act  fully  explained  to  them,  and  these 
men,  therefore,  are  losing  daily,  such  rights,  privi- 
leges, and  benefits,  which  may  never  again  be 
restored,  and, 

"WHEREAS,  it  is  desirable  that  every  means  be 
pursued  to  acquaint  the  men  of  their  full  rights, 
privileges,  and  benefits  under  the  said  act,  and  to 
prevent  the  loss  of  the  said  rights,  benefits,  and 
privileges,  therefore, 

"BE  IT  RESOLVED:  That  this  caucus  pledges 
its  most  energetic  support  to  a  campaign  of  sound 
education  and  widespread  activity,  to  the  end  that 
the  rights,  privileges,  and  benefits  under  the  War 
Risk  Insurance  Act  be  conserved  and  that  the  men 
discharged  from  the  service  be  made  to  realize 
what  are  their  rights  under  this  act ;  and  that  the 
Executive  Committee  be  empowered  and  directed 
to  confer  with  the  War  Risk  Insurance  Bureau,  that 
it  may  carry  out  the  purposes  herein  expressed  and, 

"BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  it  is  the 
sense  of  this  caucus  that  the  War  Risk  Insurance 
Act  be  amended  to  provide  that  the  insured,  under 
the  act,  may  be  allowed  to  elect  whether  his  insur- 
ance, upon  maturity,  shall  be  paid  as  an  annuity, 
or  in  one  payment;  and  that  he  may  select  his 
beneficiaries  regardless  of  family  relationship." 


1 66    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

At  the  time  of  the  caucus,  Colonel  Lindsley 
was  director  of  the  War  Risk  Insurance  Bureau 
in  Washington.  In  speaking  to  the  motion  to 
pass  the  foregoing  resolution,  he  said  that  more 
than  a  year  ago  he  and  other  officers  in  France 
felt  that  if  there  were  no  other  reasons  for  an 
organization  such  as  the  Legion,  it  would  be  more 
than  worth  while  to  create  one  even  though  its 
sole  function  was  to  let  those  who  served  in  the 
war  know  their  rights  about  government  insurance 
and  if  it  saw  to  it  that  the  general  scheme  was 
perpetuated. 

"I  am  speaking  particularly  of  the  insurance 
phase  of  the  situation, "  he  said  in  part.  "The 
United  States  Government  to-day  is  the  greatest 
insurance  institution  on  earth.  Thirty-nine  bil- 
lions of  dollars  of  applications  have  poured  in 
from  over  four  millions  of  men;  an  average  of 
practically  $9000  per  man  is  held  throughout  the 
United  States  and  abroad,  and  over  90%  of  these 
men  are  insured.  That  insurance  is  the  best  in  the 
world,  because  the  greatest  and  the  best  and  the 
richest  Government  on  earth  says,  'I  promise  to 
pay.'  It  is  the  cheapest  insurance  in  the  world 
and  always  will  be  because  the  Government  says, 
'As  part  of  our  contribution,  we,  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  in  this  war,  as  a  legitimate  expense, 
will  pay  all  cost  of  administering  this  Bureau/ 


The  Closing  Hours  167 

So  that  the  men  who  have  this  insurance  now  and 
those  who  have  it  hereafter  will  pay  only  the  net 
cost.  If  there  is  any  savings,  they  get  it. .  So  that 
for  all  time  to  come  they  have  got  the  insurance 
cheaper  than  any  other  country  except  the  United 
States  can  give  them.  I  say  that  without  any  im- 
proper comparison  with  the  splendid,  properly 
organized  institutions  in  the  United  States.  It  is 
simply  this :  That  the  people  of  the  United  States 
pay  this  cost  of  administration.  By  June  1st  the 
policies  of  conversion  will  be  ready  to  be  delivered 
to  those  who  want  them.  You  will  be  able  to  cease 
term  insurance,  if  you  wish,  and  have  ordinary 
life,  limited  payment  life,  or  endowment  insurance. 
You  can  have  any  kind  you  please,  but  the  big 
thing,  my  comrades,  is  this:  To  retain  every 
single  dollar  of  this  insurance  that  you  can  af- 
ford to  carry.  Don't  be  in  any  particular  hurry 
about  conversion .  If  your  income  isn't  good — 
carry  this  message  back  to  the  boys  throughout  the 
United  States — if  their  income  at  this  time  doesn't 
justify  carrying  higher  priced  insurance,  retain 
that  which  they  have  got  and  throughout  this 
country  tell  the  men  that  those  who  have  lapsed 
their  insurance  because  they  didn't  understand  its 
value,  because  it  wasn't  properly  presented  to 
them  at  the  period  of  demobilization  by  the 
Government,  for  it  was  not,  tell  them  they  are 


1 68     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

going  to  have  every  right  of  reinstatement  without 
physical  examination. 

"There  is  going  to  be  no  snap  judgment  on  any 
man  who  served  in  this  war  who,  because  he  was 
not  able  when  he  went  out  or  didn't  have  the  in- 
formation or  because  he  was  careless  or  for  any 
other  reason  didn't  carry  on  his  insurance.  I  ask 
you,  my  friends,  and  I  think  it  is  one  of  the  im- 
portant functions  of  this  great  American  Legion 
that  is  born  here  in  St.  Louis  at  this  time,  to  see 
that  the  fullest  possible  amount  of  this  government 
insurance  is  maintained.  Every  man  that  holds  a 
government  policy  is  a  part  of  the  Government 
more  than  ever  before.  I  ask  you  to  bear  this  in 
mind  and  it  is  going  to  be  within  your  power  to 
say  yes  and  no  to  many  of  the  great  problems  of 
the  United  States. 

"I  ask  you  to  see  that  this  great  bureau  is  kept 
out  of  politics  and  that  it  is  administered  in  the 
years  to  come  in  the  interests  of  those  for  whom  this 
law  was  enacted,  those  who  served  as  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  in  this  war  and  their  depend- 
ents. I  thank  you  for  this  opportunity  of  pre- 
senting this  matter  to  you." 

".  .  .  It  is  going  to  be  within  your  power  to 
say  yes  or  no  to  many  of  the  great  problems  of  the 
United  States. " 


The  Closing  Hours  169 

The  service  men  know  this  but  coming  from  a 
man  like  Colonel  Lindsley  it  is  especially  impor- 
tant. How  are  they  going  to  use  this  power? 
What  sort  of  a  legislative  program  will  the  Legion 
have?  The  answer  isn't  hard  to  find  by  a  perusal 
of  the  resolutions  which  were  passed  and  by  remem- 
bering that  most  important  one  which  did  not  pass, 
viz. :  the  pay  grab. 

The  next  resolution  occupying  the  attention  of 
the  caucus  was  that  one  relating  to  disability  of 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines.  It  reads: 

"BE  IT  RESOLVED:  That  the  delegates  from 
the  several  States  shall  instruct  their  respective 
organizations  to  see  that  every  disabled  soldier, 
sailor,  and  marine  be  brought  into  contact  with  the 
Rehabilitation  Department  of  the  Federal  Board 
at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and, 

"BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  the  secre- 
taries of  the  various  states  be  instructed  to  write 
to  the  Federal  Board  for  literature  as  to  what  it 
offers  to  disabled  men,  and  that  the  members  of 
the  Legion  be  instructed  to  distribute  this  litera- 
ture and  to  aid  the  wounded  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
marines  to  take  advantage  of  governmental 
assistance,  and  that  every  effort  be  made  by  the 
American  Legion  in  the  several  States  to  stop  any 
attempt  to  pauperize  disabled  men." 

The  whole  work  of  the  Legion  as  outlined  at  the 
caucus  is  constructive  and  therefore  inspiring.  The 


170    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

reader  will  note  from  the  last  resolution  that  mem- 
bers of  the  Legion  are  to  be  instructed  to  distribute 
the  literature  of  the  Rehabilitation  Department 
among  wounded  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  and 
to  show  them  how  to  take  advantage  of  govern- 
mental assistance;  and  also  that  every  effort  will 
be  made  by  the  American  Legion  to  stop  any 
attempt  to  pauperize  disabled  men. 

A  higher-minded,  more  gentle  resolve  than  that, 
can  hardly  be  imagined.  All  of  us  remember  the 
host  of  begging  cripples  who  were  going  the  rounds 
of  the  country  even  so  long  as  thirty-five  or  forty 
years  after  the  Civil  War.  This  last  resolution 
means  that  such  will  not  be  the  case  after  this  war. 
I  think  that  it  would  be  safe  to  say  that  in  nine 
cases  out  of  ten,  after  the  Legion  gets  thoroughly 
started,  crippled  beggars  who  pretend  to  have 
been  wounded  in  the  service  of  their  country  will 
be  fakers.  Mr.  Mott  of  Illinois,  in  the  discussion 
on  this  question,  brought  out  the  fact  that  there 
were  approximately  sixty  thousand  soldiers,  sailors, 
and  marines  permanently  disabled  as  a  result  of 
wounds,  accidents,  and  disease  incurred  in  the 
war,  while  approximately  one  hundred  and  forty 
thousand  discharged  men  were  only  more  or  less 
disabled. 

The  final  resolution  was  that  copies  of  all  re- 
solutions passed  by  the  caucus  were  to  be  for- 


The  Closing  Hours  171 

warded  to  every  member  of  the  United  States 
Senate  and  each  representative  in  Congress. 

Louis  A.  Frothingham,  chairman  of  the  Re- 
solutions Committee,  made  an  address  in  which  he 
thanked  the  people  of  St.  Louis  for  their  hospi- 
tality and  the  War  Camp  Community  Service 
for  its  aid.  The  War  Camp  Community  Service 
sent  special  men  to  St.  Louis  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Prank  L.  Jones  to  cooperate  with  its  St.  Louis 
leaders  in  helping  to  make  the  delegates  comfort- 
able. Arrangements  were  made  whereby  delegates 
of  small  means  could  get  lodging  for  twenty-five 
cents  a  night  and  meals  at  the  same  price. 

Mr.  Foss  of  Ohio  introduced  the  following  reso- 
lution of  thanks  which  was  passed  standing : 

"RESOLVED:  That  a  standing  vote  of  thanks 
be  tendered  to  the  War  Camp  Community  Service 
for  its  active  hospitality  to  the  delegates  to  this 
St.  Louis  Caucus  of  the  American  Legion,  which  is 
in  keeping  with  its  splendid  work  through  the  war 
in  extending  community  service  to  our  American 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  and, 

"BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  an  en- 
grossed copy  of  this  resolution  be  forwarded  to  the 
national  secretary  of  the  War  Camp  Community 
Service/' 

In  this  connection  it  might  be  well  to  digress  a 
bit  and  to  say  that  War  Camp  Community  Service 


172    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

functioned  splendidly  for  the  young  men  of  our 
Army,  Navy,  and  Marine  Corps  during  the  war, 
and  as  " Community  Service,  Inc."  intends  to 
continue  caring  for  not  only  the  doughboys  and 
gobs  it  served  so  well  but  for  an  enlarged  patron- 
age. During  the  conflict,  War  Camp  Community 
Service  organized  the  social  and  recreational 
resources  of  six  hundred  communities  which  were 
adjacent  to  training  camps,  army  bases,  and  naval 
stations,  and  also  developed  the  same  resources  in 
thirty  large  communities  dominated  by  great  war 
industries,  of  which  the  industrial  centers  at  Beth- 
lehem, Chester,  and  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  are  types. 

I  believe  it  is  well  worth  while  for  every  member 
of  the  American  Legion  to  know  something  about 
War  Camp  accomplishment,  and  Community 
Service  possibilities  for  each  has  a  similar  aim 
and  goal  which  may  be  realized  by  harmonious 
effort  on  the  part  of  community  service  branches 
and  legion  posts  throughout  the  entire  country. 

The  idea  of  War  Camp  Community  Service,  like 
all  successful  experiments,  was  based  on  sound 
truth  and  simple  theory  and  proved  to  be  far 
reaching  in  results.  Communities  were  not  told 
what  to  do;  there  was  no  cut  and  dried  pro- 
gram, but  rather  each  community  received  special 
treatment  suited  to  its  particular  needs,  tempera- 
ment, and  physical  characteristics.  The  basic  idea 


The  Closing  Hours  173 

underlying  this  activity  is  to  allow  each  one  to 
express  himself.  No  person  or  community  has 
the  same  thoughts,  manner  of  living  or  thinking, 
and  entire  communities,  like  individuals,  are 
affected  by  their  environment  and  the  life  which 
circumstances  compel  them  to  lead.  An  iron 
monger 's  stalwart  frame  may  conceal  a  poetic- soul, 
while  the  frail  body  of  an  obscure  clerk  may  enclose 
the  spirit  of  a  Cromwell.  War  Camp  has  helped 
a  great  many  such  men  to  find  themselves.  Com- 
munity Service  promises  to  do  the  same  thing,  for 
the  war  has  given  ample  proof  of  the  need  of  just 
this  kind  of  service. 

With  the  war  gone,  with  thousands  of  young  men 
thrown  upon  their  own  initiative  and  resources  for 
both  work  and  play,  there  is  going  to  be  a  great 
need  of  proper  guidance,  companionship,  and 
comradeship,  unless  a  great  many  are  to  be  over- 
taken by  some  madness  like  Bolshevism  or  in  a 
lesser  degree — constant  and  brooding  dissatis- 
faction. The  American  Legion  post,  with  its 
leaders,  is  going  to  fill  a  great  need  here.  It  will 
be  some  place  to  go  where  a  man  can  meet  his 
fellows  of  the  better  type,  and,  not  only  indulge  in 
the  pleasure  of  discussing  former  days  but,  better 
still,  take  an  interest  in  present-day  movements 
affecting  his  country. 

Also,  I  feel  that  Community  Service  will  have  a 


174    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

great  place  in  this  same  scheme:  that  it  can  take 
the  former  service  man,  lonely  and  seeking  expres- 
sion, just  where  the  Legion  leaves  off  and,  with 
Legion  ideals  on  Americanism  and  the  duties  of 
citizenship  as  a  basis,  can  round  him  off  in  the 
softer,  more  intimate  molds  of  life,  so  that  be- 
tween the  two  he  may  not  be  only  an  honor  to  his 
country,  but  to  his  family  and  to  his  God  as  well. 
Therefore,  I  believe  Community  Service  will  fall 
heir  to  the  goodwill  created  by  War  Camp  through- 
out the  nation,  that  it  will  retain  the  best  of  the 
latter 's  tenets  and  will  take  its  place  as  one  of  the 
great  powers  for  good  in  the  community  life  of 
this  country. 

At  the  final  session,  Major  Caspar  G.  Bacon 
was  elected  treasurer  of  the  Legion  to  serve  until 
November  nth.  Delegations  appointed  State 
chairmen  and  secretaries  to  carry  on  the  work  of 
further  organization  for  the  November  conven- 
tion. 

During  luncheon  time  of  the  last  day  there  had 
been  some  fear  expressed  among  certain  of  the 
delegates  that  the  loyal  foreign-born  element  in 
the  United  States  might  not  thoroughly  under- 
stand the  Alien  Slackers. Resolution.  In  order  to 
make  that  perfectly  clear  Chaplain  Inzer,  during 
the  last  hours  of  the  caucus,  called  for  a  cheer  for 
every  foreign-born  citizen  who  gave  loyal  ser- 


The  Closing  Hours  175 

vice  to  the  United  States.  A  rousing  one  was 
given. 

Then  came  the  unanimous  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Constitution  and  By- Laws  and  declara- 
tion of  principles.  It  was  passed  upon,  section  by 
section.  You  will  find  it  printed  elsewhere  in  this 
volume,  and  you  must  read  it  if  you  would  get  a 
true  view  of  the  principles  underlying  the  Legion. 
It  is  as  plain  as  a  lesson  in  a  school  reader.  Any 
comment  on  it  from  me  would  be  editorial  taut- 
ology, so  I  don't  want  to  say  anything  more  than 
that  its  framing  was  one  of  the  cleverest  and  most 
comprehensive  bits  of  work  done  since  the  very 
beginning  of  the  Legion. 

On  the  question  of  eligibility  of  Americans  who 
had  served  in  other  armies,  Mr.  Palmen  of  Cali- 
fornia, announced  as  a  bit  of  information  that  an 
Act  approved  by  Congress  on  October  15,  1918, 
provided  that  such  men  must  repatriate  them- 
selves. "We  must  go  before  a  judge  qualified  to 
give  citizenship  back,  taking  with  us  our  honorable 
discharge  and  credentials  to  show  that  we  were 
American  citizens  at  the  time  we  enlisted/*  Mr. 
Palmen  declared.  Mr.  Palmen  was  with  the 
Canadian  Army  for  three  and  a  half  years.  "This 
question  has  been  debated  and  the  public  at  large 
is  much  confused  about  it, "  he  continued.  "I  am 
told  all  that  I  must  do  is  to  go  before  a  judge  and 


176    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

that  I  will  immediately  be  made  a  citizen  again 
with  all  the  rights  and  privileges  which  that 
implies. " 

There  was  no  "hero  stuff  "  at  all  at  this  caucus, 
no  names  of  heroes,  as  such,  were  mentioned.  The 
name  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  was 
not  called  nor  any  member  of  his  Cabinet  nor 
was  any  reference  made  to  them  either  direct  or 
indirect.  This  was  done  to  avoid  the  appearance  of 
politics.  General  Pershing's  name  was  mentioned 
once  and  that  was  during  the  discussion  of  the 
sixth  section  of  the  constitution  which  provides  that 
"no  Post  may  be  named  for  any  living  person. " 

Major  Leonard  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
delegation  obtained  the  floor  and  said  that  his 
delegation  was  in  an  embarrassing  position  because 
they  had  already  organized  a  post  and  named  it 
"Pershing  Post  No.  I."  Major  Wickersham  of 
New  York,  stated  that  a  number  of  posts  were 
already  in  the  process  of  organization  in  his  State 
and  that  the  names  of  living  men  had  been  adopted 
by  them. 

After  all  why  not  call  these  posts  after  living 
men? 

Delegate  Harder,  of  Oklahoma,  offered  the  an- 
swer: 

"With  all  due  respect  to  the  gentlemen  who  have 
already  named  their  posts  they  are  subjected,  as 


The  Closing  Hours  177 

are  we  to  the  action  of  this  caucus/'  he  said. 
"We  know  positively  that  in  due  course  of  time 
those  names  will  be  used,  at  least  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, politically.  Let  us  find  some  other  way  to 
honor  these  men  and  make  it  impossible  for  the 
people  of  this  country  to  get  the  idea  that  this  is  a 
political  organization. " 

There  you  have  it,  the  real  reason.  Delegate 
Harder  was  only  one  of  the  hundreds  who  not  only 
wanted  to  keep  the  Legion  out  of  politics  now  but 
for  all  time  to  come. 

Mr.  McGrath  of  New  Jersey  also  took  an 
amusing  fling  at  article  six.  As  originally  drawn 
it  stipulated  that  the  local  unit  should  be  termed 
a  billet.  "I  object  to  the  word  billet, "  he  said. 
"It  has  too  many  unpleasant  associations  as  those 
men  who  slept  in  them  in  France  will  testify.  A 
billet  meant  some  place  where  you  lay  down  and 
slept  as  long  as  certain  little  animals  would  let  you, 
and  the  American  Legion  isn't  going  to  do  that. " 

Just  about  this  time  the  afternoon  was  drawing 
to  a  close.  Everybody  realized  that  a  monumental 
task  had  been  performed.  Sleepless  nights  and 
nerve-wracking  days  had  been  endured.  Many 
pocketbooks  were  running  low.  Everybody  felt  it 
was  time  to  go  home. 

General  Hoffman  of  Oklahoma  obtained  recog- 
nition from  the  chair  as  some  of  the  delegates 


178    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

already  were  rising  to  leave  the  theater.  ' '  I  move, 
Mr.  Chairman/*  shouted  the  General,  "that  we 
extend  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Colonel  Roosevelt  and 
Colonel  Clark  and  other  gentlemen  who  have  been 
associated  with  them  and  to  the  chairman  of  this 
association  and  his  able  assistants  who  have 
brought  this  convention  to  such  a  happy  and 
successful  close." 

At  the  mention  of  Colonel  Roosevelt's  name 
departing  delegates  tarried  and  when  Mr.  Wein- 
man of  Louisiana  moved  adjournment,  the  house 
stood  and  with  one  accord  began  to  cry,  "  We  want 
Teddy, "  "We  want  Teddy. " 

Colonel  Roosevelt  walked  to  the  center  of  the 
stage  and  raised  both  hands  seeking  silence. 

"I  want  to  say  just  one  thing,"  he  said.  "I 
have  never  been  so  much  impressed  in  my  life  as  I 
have  been  by  the  actions  of  this  caucus,  actions  of 
the  various  committees  and  in  the  way  this  caucus 
thought  for  itself  and  acted  for  itself.  For  instance 
it  would  receive  resolutions  from  the  Resolutions 
Committee,  would  think  them  over,  would  re-decide 
on  them  and  would  re-decide  them  right.  I  want  to 
say  in  closing  that  the  only  thing  I  regret  is  that 
my  father  could  not  have  been  alive  at  this  moment 
to  see  the  actions  of  this  body  of  Americans. " 

Mr.  Healey  of  the  New  York  delegation  ob- 
tained the  attention  of  the  chair.  "I  make  a 


The  Closing  Hours  179 

motion/'  stated  Mr.   Healey,    "that  before  this 
great  caucus  adjourns  we  should  remain  standing 
in  one  minute's  silence  as  a  tribute  to  the  greatest  \ 
statesman  that  this  nation  has  ever  produced —  ! 
THEODORE  ROOSEVELT/' 


CHAPTER  XIII 

WHY  THE  AMERICAN  LEGION? 

As  I  glance  back  over  these  pages  I  am  impressed 
with  the  fact  that  only  the  preface  of  "The  Story 
of  the  American  Legion "  has  been  written  here. 
When  the  reaches  of  the  years  shall  gather  to 
themselves  the  last  of  the  men  of  the  army,  navy, 
and  marine  corps  of  the  United  States  during  its 
war  against  Germany  that  story  may  then  be 
faithfully  told.  So  the  truth  of  the  matter  now  is 
that  history  is  in  the  writing  so  far  as  the  Ameri- 
can Legion  in  its  relation  to  the  United  States  of 
America  is  concerned.  That  statement  isn't  in 
reality  as  platitudinous  as  it  seems  at  first  thought. 

We  have  arrived  at  world  importance  in  his- 
tory. We  have  come  to  that  as  the  result  of  our 
part  in  the  world  war.  Our  isolation  is  over.  We 
are  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes.  Uncle  Sam  is  the 
dominant  world  figure ;  his  hands  control  the  reins 
that  are  driving  the  world.  He  has  the  enemies 
which  all  the  successful  have.  There  are  those 
who  had,  and  haven't,  and  there  are  those  who 

1 80 


Why  the  American  Legion?  181 

never  had,  and  want;  all  desiring,  all  envying  the 
power  of  the  United  States  of  America.  This 
great  power  and  position  was  gained  primarily 
by  one  motive — unselfishness.  Just  so  long  as  it 
is  our  dominant  trait  will  we  retain  what  we  have 
gained.  Just  so  long  as  we  remain  true  to  our  in- 
nate principles,  to  the  tenets  of  our  constitution, 
will  we  retain  world  importance  and  world  in- 
fluence. 

There  is  a  wolf  at  the  gates  of  civilized  Europe. 
If  he  gets  inside  nothing  can  stop  him  from  ravish- 
ing us.  This  war  has  bound  us  so  closely  to  Europe 
that  we  are,  in  a  sense,  one  and  the  same.  He  who 
strikes  our  brother  strikes  us,  even  though  he  be 
so  far  away  that  the  distance  is  measured  by  an 
ocean.  We  must  get  over  the  idea  that  distance 
makes  a  difference.  The  Atlantic  ocean  has  just 
been  crossed  in  sixteen  hours.  Remember,  thought 
travels  even  faster. 

The  wolf  that  I  mentioned  is  a  Mad  Thought. 
He  is  Bolshevism.  He  has  the  madness  because  of 
hunger,  a  hunger  not  only  of  body  but  of  mind;  the 
century-long  hunger  of  the  Russian  peoples  for 
Freedom.  Russia  has  run  in  a  circle.  From  the 
autocracy  of  the  classes  it  has  arrived  at  the  au- 
tocracy of  the  masses. 

Then,  too,  all  our  European  brothers  are  war 
worn ;  tired,  tired  nearly  to  death  with  struggle  and 


1 82    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

sacrifice,  and  this  is  not  a  frame  of  mind  calculated 
to  help  reseat  reason  in  the  world. 

Why  the  American  Legion  ? 

One  of  our  great  bankers  recently  returned  from 
an  intimate  study  of  affairs  abroad.  His  name  is 
Frank  A.  Vanderlip.  In  an  address  before  the 
Economic  Club  in  New  York  City  he  said  that 
Europe  is  paralyzed  and  that  our  task  is  to  save. 

I  give  the  introduction  to  his  address  as  it 
appeared  in  the  New  York  Times : 

"  Frank  A.  Vanderlip,  who  spoke  last  night  at 
the  Hotel  Astor,  at  a  dinner  of  the  Economic  Club, 
which  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  his  story 
of  conditions  in  Europe,  whence  he  has  recently 
returned,  said  that  England  was  on  the  verge  of  a 
revolution,  which  was  narrowly  averted  in  Febru- 
ary, when  he  was  there,  and  the  conditions  on  the 
Continent  of  Europe  are  appalling  beyond  any- 
thing dreamed  of  in  this  country. 

"He  said  that  the  food  conditions  in  Europe 
would  be  worse  instead  of  better  for  a  year  ahead, 
because  of  the  dislocation  of  labor  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  farm  animals,  and  that  the  industrial  and 
economic  outlook,  generally,  points  to  a  period  after 
the  war,  which  will  equal,  if  not  exceed  the  war 
period  in  suffering  and  misery. 

"He  said  that  Italy  was  afraid  to  disband  her 
army,  because  she  could  not  employ  the  men  and 


Why  the  American  Legion?  183 

was  afraid  of  idleness.  He  said  that  the  differen- 
tial, which  had  kept  England  preeminent  in 
international  trade,  was  the  underpayment  of 
labor,  and  that  this  differential  was  now  being 
wiped  out,  forcing  England  to  face  tremendously 
serious  problems  for  the  future.  He  quoted  a 
British  minister  as  saying  that  means  would  have 
to  be  found  to  send  six  or  seven  millions  of  English- 
men out  of  the  British  Isles  and  closer  to  the 
sources  of  food  production,  if  continental  condi- 
tions continued  long  as  at  present. 

"He  said  that  the  best  printing  presses  in  the 
world  to-day,  except  those  in  Washington,  were  at 
Petrograd,  and  that  they  were  turning  out  masses 
of  counterfeited  pounds,  francs,  marks,  lira,  and 
pesetas,  so  skillfully  made  that  detection  was 
almost  impossible.  He  said  that  these  counter- 
feits were  being  spent  largely  by  Germans  to 
foment  Bolshevist  propaganda. 

"Spain  would,  he  said,  be  the  most  promising 
country  in  Europe  except  for  the  labor  situation 
there,  which  had  brought  it  to  the  verge  of  Bol- 
shevism. He  said  that  the  most  perfect  laboratory 
of  Bolshevism  in  Europe  outside  of  Russia  was  in 
Barcelona,  Spain,  which  he  said  was  ruled  ab- 
solutely by  a  mysterious  secret  council,  which  had 
censored  and  fined  the  newspapers  until  they 
quit  publication  and  had  enforced  its  will  in  all 


1 84     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

matters  by  assassinations,  which  no  one  dared  to 
punish. 

"He  said  that  America  alone  could  save  Europe 
and  that  its  aid  must  be  extended  to  all  countries 
equally.  He  said  that  this  was  necessary,  not  only 
to  save  Europe,  but  to  prevent  an  invasion  of 
America  by  the  forces  threatening  the  social 
overthrow  of  Europe." 

Why  the  American  Legion? 

There,  at  least,  is  one  great  reason. 

Our  men  of  the  army,  navy,  and  marine  corps  got 
a  schooling  in  the  practical  Americanism  which  our 
military  establishment  naturally  teaches.  Those 
who  were  aliens  by  birth  and  those  native  sons 
with  inadequate  educational  advantages  learned  a 
great  deal  by  association  with  men  of  better  types 
and  by  travel.  These  men  can  and  will  stem  the 
insidious  guile  of  the  wolf,  and,  to  aid  them  in  so 
doing,  the  Legion  has  an  active  speakers'  bureau 
under  Captain  Osborn  teaching  Americanism  in 
every  section  of  the  country.  These  speakers,  in 
helping  to  organize  the  Legion  along  the  right  lines, 
teach  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and 
preach  that  remedial  changes  in  this  government 
can  be  brought  about  in  only  one  way,  and  that  is, 
constitutionally. 

Why  the  American  Legion? 

America  is  safe  from  any  real  danger  if  she  can 


Why  the  American  Legion?  185 

keep  everybody  busy.  Less  than  two  weeks  after 
the  caucus,  the.national  executive  committee  had 
in  process  of  formation  a  practicable  scheme  to  aid 
in  solving  the  reemployment  problem.  As  time 
goes  on  this  department  of  Legion  activity  will 
become  more  and  more  efficient. 

Here  is  another  answer  to  the  question. 

All  through  these  pages  the  reader  has  found 
references  to  this  question  of  reemployment; 
to  anti-Bolshevism;  the  protection  of  the  uniform; 
the  non-partisan  and  non-political  nature  of  the 
Legion;  unselfishness;  disability  pay  for  the  re- 
serve forces;  war  risk  insurance;  allotments  and 
back  pay;  the  care  of  disabled  service  men;  one 
hundred  per  cent.  Americanism,  and  the  deporta- 
tion of  those  aliens  who  "bit  the  hand  that  fed 
them. "  The  story  has  dealt  almost  entirely  with 
these  questions  because  primarily  and  funda- 
mentally they  are  The  American  Legion.  This 
program  is  the  most  important  in  the  United 
States  to-day.  It  means  the  betterment  of  the 
most  stable  forces  in  our  community  life,  not  only 
of  to-day  but  for  the  next  forty  or  fifty  years.  It  J 
means  the  proper  extension  of  the  influence  of  the 
most  powerful  factor  for  patriotism  in  our  country 
— the  onetime  service  man.  It  does  not  mean 
patriotism  bounded  on  one  side  by  a  brass  band 
and  on  the  other  by  a:  dressy  uniform  and  a  reunion 


1 86    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

banner.  It  means  real  patriotism  in  its  broadest 
sense — a  clean  body  politic;  a  clean  national  soul 
and  a  clean  international  conscience. 

This  is  the  final  answer  to  the  question  which 
serves  as  the  title  for  this  concluding  chapter. 


THE  AMERICAN  LEGION 


LIST  OF   STATE  OFFICERS 

ALABAMA: 

Chairman:     Bibb  Graves,  Montgomery. 
Secretary:      Leroy    Jacobs,    Care   Jacobs    Furniture    Co., 
Birmingham. 

ARIZONA: 

Chairman:     E.  Power  Conway,  Noll  Bldg.,  Phoenix. 
Secretary:     Fred  B.  Townsend,  Natl.  Bk.,  Arizona  Bldg., 
Phoenix. 

ARKANSAS: 

Chairman:    J.  J.  Harrison,  Little  Rock. 
Secretary:     Granville  Burrow,  Little  Rock. 

CALIFORNIA: 

Chairman:     Henry  G.  Mathewson,  Flood  Bldg.,  San  Fran- 
cisco. 
Secretary:      E.  E.  Bohlen,  926  Flood  Bldg.,  San  Francisco. 

COLORADO: 

Chairman:     H.  A.  Saidy,  Colorado  Springs. 

Secretary  :     Morton  M.  David,  401  Empire  Bldg.,  Denver. 

CONNECTICUT: 

Chairman:    Jas.  B.  Moody,  Jr.,  202  Phoenix  Bk.  Bldg., 

Hartford. 
Secretary:     Alfred   A.   Phillips,  Jr.,    no  Glenbrook  Rd., 

Stamford. 

187 


1 88    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA: 

Chairman:     E.   Lester  Jones,   833  Southern  Bldg.,  Wash- 
ington. 
Secretary:      Howard  Fisk,  833  Southern  Bldg.,  Washington. 

DELAWARE: 

Chairman:  Geo.  N.  Davis,  909  Market  St.,  Wilmington. 
Secretary:      L.  K.  Carpenter,  Du  Pont  Bldg.,  Wilmington. 

FLORIDA: 

Chairman:     S.  L.  Lowry,  Jr.,  Citizens  Bk.  Bldg.,  Tampa. 
Secretary:     J.  T.  Wiggington,  818— I5th  St.,  Miami. 

GEORGIA: 

Chairman:     Trammell  Scott,  97  E.  Merrits  Are.,  Atlanta. 
Secretary:     Louis  H.  Bell,  c/o  Service  Record,  208  Flatiron 
Bldg.,  Atlanta. 

HAWAII: 

Chairman:     Lawrence  Judd,  c/o  T.  H.  Dairies  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

Honolulu. 
Secretary:     J.  P.  Morgan,  Box  188,  Honolulu. 

k 

IDAHO: 

Chairman:     C.  M.  Booth,  Pocatello. 
Secretary:      Laverne  Collier,  Pocatello. 

ILLINOIS  : 

Chairman:  George  G.  Seaman,  Taylorville. 
Secretary:  Myron  E.  Adams,  205  Marquette  Bldg.,  1408. 
Dearborn  St.,  Chicago. 

INDIANA: 

Chairman:     Raymond  S.  Springer,  Connersville. 
Secretary:      L.  Russell  Newgent,  518  Hume  Monsur  Bldg., 
Indianapolis. 

IOWA: 

Chairman:     Matthew  A.  Tinley,  Council  Bluffs. 
Secretary :     John  Mac  Vicar,  336  Hubbell  Bldg. ,  Des  Moinee. 


State  Officers  189 

KANSAS: 

Chairman :    A.  Phares,  519  Sweiter  Bldg. ,  Wichita. 
Secretary:      Ike  Lambert,  Emporia. 

KENTUCKY: 

Chairman:     Henry  DeHaven  Moorman,  Hardinsburgh. 
Secretary :      D.  A.  Sachs,  Louisville. 

LOUISIANA: 

Chairman:     Allison  Owen,  1237  State  St.,  New  Orleans. 
Secretary:      T.    H.    H.    Pratt,    721    Hibernia    Bank,    New 
Orleans. 

MAINE: 

Chairman:     A.  L.  Robinson,  85  Exchange  St.,  Portland. 
Secretary:      James  L.  Boyle,  184  Water  St.,  Augusta. 

MARYLAND: 

Chairman:     Jas.  A.  Gary,  Jr.,  Equitable  Bldg.,  Baltimore. 
Secretary:      Alex.  Randall,  12  West  Chase  St.,  Baltimore. 

MASSACHUSETTS  : 

Chairman:     John  F.  J.  Herbert,  749  Pleasant  St.,  Worcester. 
Secretary:      George  F.  Gilbody,  3  Van  Winkle  St.,  Boston. 

MICHIGAN  : 

Chairman:     Geo.  C.  Waldo,  Detroit. 

Secretary:      Ryle  D.  Tabor,  312  Moffatt  Bldg.,  Detroit. 

MINNESOTA  : 

Chairman:     Harrison  Fuller,  c/o  St.  Paul  Dispatch,  St.  Paul. 
Secretary:      George  G.  Chapin,  603  Guardian  Life  Bldg., 
St.  Paul. 

MISSISSIPPI  : 

Chairman:     Alex.  Fitzhugh,  Vicksburgh. 
Secretary:     John  M.  Alexander,  Jackson. 

MISSOURI  : 

Chairman: 
Secretary : 


190    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

MONTANA: 

Chairman:     Chas.  L.  Sheridan,  Bozeman. 
Secretary:      Ben.  W.  Barnett,  Helena. 

NEBRASKA: 

Chairman:    John  G.  Maher,  Lincoln. 

Secretary:     Allan  A.  Tukey,  ist  Natl.  Bank  Bldg.,  Omaha. 

NEVADA: 

Chairman:     E.  L.  Malsbary,  Reno. 
Secretary:     J.  D.  Salter,  Winnimucca. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE: 

Chairman:     Frank  Knox,  Manchester. 
Secretary:     Frank  J.  Abbott,  Manchester. 

NEW  JERSEY: 

Chairman:  Hobart  Brown,   c/o  Fireman's  Insurance  Co., 

Broad  and  Market  Sts.,  Newark. 
Secretary:     George  W.  C.  McCarter,  765  Broad  St.,  Newark. 

NEW  MEXICO: 

Chairman:     Charles  M.  DeBremon,  Roswell. 
Secretary:      Harry  Howard  Dorman,  Santa  Fe*. 

NEW  YORK: 

Chairman:  C.  W.  Wickersham,  140  Nassau  St.,  New  York 

City. 

Secretary :  Wade  H .  Hayes,  1 40  Nassau  St. ,  New  York  City. 

NORTH  CAROLINA: 

Chairman:     C.  K.   Burgess,   107  Commercial  Bank  Bldg., 

Raleigh. 
Secretary:      Charles  N.  Hulvey,  A.  &  E.  College,  Raleigh. 

NORTH  DAKOTA: 

Chairman:     R.  H.  Treacy,  Bismarck. 
Secretary:      Ed.  E.  Gearey,  Fargo. 

OHIO: 

Chairman:     F.  C.  Galbraith,  Cincinnati. 
Secretary:     Chalmers  R.  Wilson,  Adj.  Gen.  Office,  State 
House,  Columbus. 


State  Officers  191 

OKLAHOMA  : 

Chairman:     Ross  N.  Lillard,  Oklahoma  City. 
Secretary :     F.  W.  Fisher,  Oklahoma  City. 

OREGON: 

Chairman:  E.  J.  Eivers,  444  >£  Larrabee  St.,  Portland. 

Secretary:  Dow  V.  Walker,  Care  Multnomah  Club,  Port- 
land. 

PENNSYLVANIA  : 

Chairman  and  Secretary:  George  F.  Tyler,  121  S.  5th  St., 
Philadelphia. 

RHODE  ISLAND: 

Chairman:     Alexander  H.  Johnson,  City  Hall,  Providence. 
Secretary:      James  E.  Cummiskey,  Crompton. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA: 

Chairman:     John  D.  Smyser,  M.D.,  423  South  Gargan  St., 

Florence. 
Secretary:      Ben.  D.  Fulton,  32  West  Evans  St.,  Florence. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA: 

Chairman:     T.  R.  Johnson,  Sioux  Falls. 
Secretary:     J.  C.  Denison,  Vermillion. 

TENNESSEE  : 

Chairman :  Roan  Waring,  Bank  of  Commerce  and  Trust  Co. 
Bldg.,  Memphis. 

Secretary:  W.  R.  Craig,  Nat.  Life  and  Accident  Co.,  Nash- 
ville, Tenn. 

TEXAS: 

Chairman:     Claude  B.  Birkhead,  San  Antonio. 
Secretary:     J.  A.  Belzer,  Austin. 

UTAH: 

Chairman:     Harold  R.  Smoot,  Salt  Lake  City. 
Secretary:     Baldwin   Robertson,    409    Ten   Boston   Bldg., 
Salt  Lake  City. 


192     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

VIRGINIA  : 

Chairman:     Andrew  D.  Christian,  c/o  Ruy  &  Power  Bldg., 

Richmond. 
Secretary:     R.   G.   M.   Ross,   508    ist   Nat'l.   Bank   Bldg., 

Newport  News. 

VERMONT: 

Chairman:     H.  Nelson  Jackson,  Burlington. 
Secretary:     Joseph  H.  Fountain,  138  Colchester  Ave.,  Burl- 
ington. 

WASHINGTON: 

Chairman:     Harvey  A.  Moss,  Seattle. 

Secretary:      George  R.  Drever,  c/o  Adj.  Gen.  Office,  Armory 
Seattle. 

WEST  VIRGINIA: 

Chairman:     Jackson  Arnold,  in  Court  Ave.,  Weston. 
Secretary:     Chas.     McCamic,    904    Nat'l.    Bank   of   West 
Virginia  Bldg.,  Wheeling. 

WISCONSIN: 

Chairman:     E.  F.  Ackley,  226  First  Nat'l.  Bk.  Bldg.,  Mil- 
waukee. 
Secretary:      R.  N.  Gibson,  Grand  Rapids. 

WYOMING: 

Chairman:     A.  H.  Beach,  Lusk. 
Secretary:     R.  H.  Nichols,  Casper. 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  LEGION 

AS  ADOPTED  BY 

THE   ST.    LOUIS   CAUCUS 
May  10,  1919 

/ 

PREAMBLE 

For  God  and  Country  we  associate  ourselves  to- 
gether for  the  following  purposes: 

To  uphold  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  of  America;  to  maintain  law  and  order; 
to  foster  and  perpetuate  a  one  hundred  per  cent. 
Americanism;  to  preserve  the  memories  and  incidents 
of  our  association  in  the  Great  War;  to  inculcate  a 
sense  of  individual  obligation  to  the  community,  state, 
and  nation;  to  combat  the  autocracy  of  both  the 
classes  and  the  masses;  to  make  right  the  master  of 
might;  to  promote  peace  and  good  will  on  earth;  to 
safeguard  and  transmit  to  posterity  the  principles  of 
justice,  freedom,  and  democracy;  to  consecrate  and 
sanctify  our  comradeship  by  our  devotion  to  mutual 
helpfulness. 

ARTICLE    I 
Name 

The  name  of  this  organization  shall  be  THE  AMER- 
ICAN LEGION. 

13  193 


194    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

ARTICLE   II 

Membership 

All  persons  shall  be  eligible  to  membership  in  this 
organization  who  were  in  the  military  or  naval  service 
of  the  United  States  during  the  period  between  April 
6,  1917,  and  November  n,  1918,  both  dates  inclusive, 
and  all  persons  who  served  in  the  military  or  naval 
services  of  any  of  the  governments  associated  with  the 
United  States  during  the  World  War,  provided  that 
they  were  citizens  of  the  United  States  at  the  time  of 
their  enlistment,  and  are  again  citizens  at  the  time  of 
application,  except  those  persons  who  separated  from 
the  service  under  terms  amounting  to  dishonorable 
discharge  and  except  also  those  persons  who  refused 
to  perform  their  military  duties  on  the  ground  of  con- 
scientious or  political  obligation. 

ARTICLE    III 
Nature 

While  requiring  that  every  member  of  the  organiza- 
tion perform  his  full  duty  as  a  citizen  according  to  his 
own  conscience  and  understanding,  the  organization 
shall  be  absolutely  non-partisan,  and  shall  not  be  used 
for  the  dissemination  of  partisan  principles,  or  for  the 
promotion  of  the  candidacy  of  any  person  seeking 
public  office  or  preferment. 

ARTICLE   IV 

Administration 

i.  The  Legislative  Body  of  the  organization  shall 
be  a  national  convention,  to  be  held  annually  at  a 


Constitution  195 

place  and  time  to  be  fixed  by  vote  of  the  preceding 
convention,  or  in  the  event  that  the  preceding  con- 
vention does  not  fix  a  time  and  place,  then  such  time 
and  place  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Executive  Committee, 
hereinafter  provided  for. 

2.  The  annual  convention  shall  be  composed  of 
delegates  and  alternates  from  each  state,  the  District 
of  Columbia,  and  each  territory  and  territorial  pos- 
session of  the  United  States,  each  of  which  shall  be 
entitled  to  four  delegates  and  four  alternates,  and  to 
one  additional  delegate  and  alternate  for  each  one 
thousand  memberships  paid  up  thirty  days  prior  to 
the  date  of  the  national  convention.     The  vote  of 
each  state,  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  of  each 
territory  or  territorial  possession  of  the  United  States 
shall  be  equal  to  the  total  number  of  delegates  to 
which  that  state,  district,  territory,  or  territorial  pos- 
session is  entitled. 

3.  The  delegates  to  the  national  convention  shall 
be  chosen  by  each  state  in  the  manner  hereinafter 
prescribed. 

4.  The  executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  Na- 
tional Executive  Committee  to  be  composed  of  two 
representatives  from  each  state,  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, territory  and  territorial  possessions  of  the  United 
States  and  such  other  ex-officio  members  as  may  be 
elected   by   the   Caucus.     The    National   Executive 
Committee  shall  have  authority  to  fill  any  vacancies 
in  its  membership. 

ARTICLE   V 

State  Organization 

The  state  organization  shall  consist  of  that  organiza- 
tion in  each  state,  territory,  or  the  District  of  Columbia 


196    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

whose  delegates  have  been  seated  in  the  St.  Louis 
Caucus.  In  those  states  which  are  at  present  unor- 
ganized the  state  organization  shall  consist  of  an 
Executive  Committee  to  be  chosen  by  a  state  con- 
vention and  such  other  officers  and  committees  as 
said  convention  may  prescribe.  The  state  convention 
in  the  latter  case  shall  be  called  by  the  two  members 
of  the  National  Executive  Committee  in  that  state, 
territory,  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  shall  choose 
the  delegates  to  the  national  convention,  providing  a 
fair  representation  for  all  sections  of  the  state  or 
territory.  Each  state  organization  shall  receive  a 
charter  from  the  National  Executive  Committee. 

The  officers  of  the  state  organization  shall  be  as 
follows : 

One  State  Commander. 

One  State  Vice  Commander. 

One  State  Adjutant. 

One  State  Finance  Officer. 

One  State  Historian. 

One  State  Master-at-Arms. 

One  State  Chaplain. 

ARTICLE   VI 

The  Local  Unit 

The  local  unit  shall  be  termed  the  Post,  which  shall 
have  a  minimum  membership  of  fifteen.  No  Post 
shall  be  received  into  this  organization  until  it  shall 
have  received  a  charter.  A  Post  desiring  a  charter 
shall  apply  to  the  State  Organization  and  the  charter 
shall  be  issued  by  the  National  Executive  Committee 
whenever  recommended  by  the  State  Organization. 
The  National  Executive  Committee  shall  not  issue  a 
charter  in  the  name  of  any  living  person. 


Constitution  197 

The  officers  of  the  local  organization  shall  be  as 
follows: 

One  Post  Commander. 

One  Post  Vice  Commander. 

One  Post  Adjutant. 

One  Post  Finance  Officer. 

One  Post  Historian. 

One  Post  Chaplain. 

and  such  appointive  officers  as  may  be  provided  by 
the  State  Organization. 

ARTICLE  VII 
Dues 

Each  state  organization  shall  pay  to  the  National 
Executive  Committee  or  such  officer  as  said  committee 
may  designate  therefor,  the  sum  of  twenty-five  cents 
annually,  for  each  individual  member  in  that  particu- 
lar state,  District  of  Columbia,  territory,  or  territorial 
possession. 

ARTICLE   VIII 
Quorum 

A  quorum  shall  exist  at  a  national  convention 
when  there  are  present  twenty-five  or  more  states  and 
territories  partially  or  wholly  represented  as  herein- 
before provided. 

ARTICLE   IX 
Rules 

The  rules  of  procedure  at  the  national  convention 
shall  be  those  set  forth  in  Roberts'  Rules  of  Order. 


19$    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

ARTICLE   X 
Amendment 

This  Constitution  is  to  be  in  force  until  the  Novem- 
ber Convention,  when  it  will  be  ratified  or  amended 
by  that  Convention. 


RESOLUTIONS 

PASSED  BY 

THE  ST.  LOUIS  CAUCUS,  AMERICAN  LEGION 
May  10,  1919. 


j.     Endorsement  of  the  Victory  Liberty  Loan. 

WHEREAS,  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
has  appealed  to  the  country  for  financial  support  in 
order  to  provide  the  funds  for  expenditures  made 
necessary  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war  and  to  re- 
establish the  country  upon  a  Peace  basis;  therefore, 
beit 

RESOLVED:  That  this  caucus  emphatically  en- 
dorses the  Victory  Liberty  Loan  and  urges  all  Amer- 
icans to  promote  the  success  of  the  Loan  in  every 
manner  possible. 

2.     Conscientious  Objectors. 

RESOLVED:  That  this  caucus  go  on  record  as  con- 
demning the  action  of  those  responsible  for  protecting 
the  men  who  refused  full  military  service  to  the  United 
States,  in  accordance  with  the  Act  of  Congress  of 
May  1 8,  1917,  and  who  were  tried  by  General  Court 
Martial,  sentenced  to  prison,  and  later  fully  pardoned, 
restored  to  duty,  and  honorably  discharged,  with  all 

199 


200    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

back  pay  and  allowances  given  them;  and  as  con- 
demning further  the  I.  W.  W.'s,  International  Socialists, 
and  Anarchists  in  their  efforts  to  secure  the  release  of 
these  men  already  pardoned,  and  those  still  in  prison, 
serving  sentence,  and, 

BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  this  caucus  demand 
full  and  complete  investigation  by  Congress,  of  the  trial 
and  conviction  of  these  parties,  and  their  subsequent 
pardon. 

3 .  Protection  of  the  Uniform . 

WHEREAS,  it  is  recognized  that  the  uniform  of  the 
United  States  is  as  much  a  symbol  as  the  flag  itself, 
and  thereby  entitled  to  fitting  respect,  and,  Whereas, 
certain  unscrupulous  firms  and  individuals  have  taken 
nefarious  advantage  of  popular  sentiment  by  utiliz- 
ing men  in  uniforms  as  peddlers  and  sales-agents, 
and, 

WHEREAS,  certain  discharged  men  have  so  far  for- 
gotten the  respect  due  the  uniform  they  wear,  as  to 
use  it  as  an  aid  in  peddling  goods;  therefore, 

BE  IT  RESOLVED  :  That  this  national  caucus  go  on 
record  as  being  unalterably  opposed  to  such  practices, 
and, 

BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED  i  That  each  state  and  local 
organization  here  represented  be  urged  to  do  all  in  its 
power  to  put  an  end  to  this  misuse  of  the  uniform, 
which  has  always  been  worn  with  honor  and  for  noble 
purposes. 

4.  Reclamation  of  Arid,  Swamp,  and  Cut-Over  Timber 

Lands. 

WHEREAS,  the  reclamation  of  arid,  swamp,  and  cut- 
over  timber  lands  is  one  of  the  great  constructive 
problems  of  immediate  interest  to  the  nation;  and, 


Resolutions  201 

WHEREAS,  one  of  the  questions  for  immediate  con- 
sideration is  that  of  presenting  to  discharged  soldiers 
and  sailors  an  opportunity  to  establish  homes  and 
create  for  themselves  a  place  in  the  field  of  construc- 
tive effort;  and, 

WHEREAS,  one  of  the  purposes  for  which  the  forma- 
tion of  the  American  Legion  is  contemplated  is  to  take 
an  energetic  interest  in  all  constructive  measures  de- 
signed to  promote  the  happiness  and  contentment  of 
the  people,  and  to  actively  encourage  all  proper  move- 
ments of  a  general  nature  to  assist  the  men  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  in  solving  the  problems  of  wholesome 
existence;  and, 

WHEREAS,  the  Department  of  the  Interior  and  the 
Reclamation  Service  have  been  engaged  in  formulat- 
ing and  presenting  to  the  country  broad,  constructive 
plans  for  the  reclamation  of  arid,  swamp  and  cut-over 
timber  lands; 

Now,  THEREFORE,  BE  IT  RESOLVED:  By  the  cau- 
cus  of  delegates  of  the  American  Legion  in  Convention 
assembled,  in  the  City  of  Saint  Louis,  Missouri,  that 
we  endorse  the  efforts  heretofore  made  for  the  reclama- 
tion of  lands,  and  we  respectfully  urge  upon  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States  the  adoption  at  an  early 
date  of  broad  and  comprehensive  legislation  for  eco- 
nomic reclamation  of  all  lands  susceptible  of  reclama- 
tion and  production. 

5.     Reemployment  of  Ex-Service  Men. 

WHEREAS,  one  of  the  most  important  questions  of 
Readjustment  and  Reconstruction,  is  the  question  of 
employment  of  the  returning  and  returned  soldiers 
and  sailors,  and, 

WHEREAS,  no  principle  is  more  sound  than  that 
growing  out  of  the  general  patriotic  attitude  toward 


202     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

the  returning  soldier  vouchsafing  to  him  return  to  his 
former  employment,  or  a  better  job; 

BE  IT  RESOLVED,  That  the  American  Legion  in  na- 
tional caucus  assembled,  declares  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States  that  no  act  can  be  more  unpatriotic  in 
these  most  serious  days  of  Readjustment  and  Recon- 
struction than  the  violation  of  the  principle  announced, 
which  pledges  immediate  reemployment  to  the  re- 
turned soldier;  and, 

BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  the  American 
Legion  in  its  National  Caucus  assembled  does  hereby 
declare  itself  as  supporting  in  every  proper  way,  the 
efforts  of  the  ex-service  men  to  secure  reemployment, 
and  recommends  that  simple  patriotism  requires  that 
ex-soldiers,  sailors,  or  marines  be  given  preference 
whenever  additional  men  are  to  be  employed  in  any 
private  or  public  enterprise;  and, 

BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  the  American 
Legion  recommends  to  Congress  the  prompt  enact- 
ment of  a  program  for  internal  improvement,  having 
in  view  the  necessity  therefor,  and  as  an  incident  the 
absorption  of  the  surplus  labor  of  the  country,  giving 
preference  to  discharged  ex-service  men. 

6.     Disability  Pay. 

WHEREAS,  under  the  provisions  of  the  existing  law 
an  obvious  injustice  is  done  to  the  civilian  who  entered 
the  military  service,  and  as  an  incident  to  that  service 

3  disabled;  therefore, 
BE  IT  RESOLVED!      That  this  Caucus  urge  upon 
ongress  the  enactment  of  legislation,  which  will  place 
upon  an  equal  basis  as  to  retirement  for  disability 
incurred  in  active  service  during  the  War  with  the 
Central  Powers  of  Europe,  all  officers  and  enlisted  men 
who  served  in  the  Military  and  Naval  forces  of  the 


Resolutions  203 

United  States  during  the  War,  irrespective  of  whether 
they  happened  to  serve  in  the  Regular  Army,  or  in  the 
National  Guard  or  National  Army.  . 

7.     War  Risk  Insurance. 

WHEREAS,  one  of  the  purposes  of  this  organization 
is:  "To  protect,  assist,  and  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare of  all  persons  in  the  Military  and  Naval  service 
of  the  United  States,  and  those  dependent  upon  them/1 
and, 

WHEREAS,  owing  to  the  speedy  demobilization  of 
the  men  in  the  service,  who  have  not  had  their  rights, 
privileges  and  benefits  under  the  War  Risk  Insurance 
Act  fully  explained  to  them,  and  these  men,  therefore, 
are  losing  daily,  such  rights,  privileges  and  benefits, 
which  may  never  again  be  restored;  and, 

WHEREAS,  it  is  desirable  that  every  means  be  pur- 
sued to  acquaint  the  men  of  their  full  rights,  privileges, 
and  benefits  under  the  said  Act,  and  to  prevent  the  loss 
of  the  said  rights,  benefits  and  privileges;  therefore, 

BE  IT  RESOLVED  :  That  the  American  Legion  pledges 
its  most  energetic  support  to  a  campaign  of  sound  edu- 
cation and  widespread  activity,  to  the  end  that  the 
rights,  privileges  and  benefits  under  the  War  Risk  In- 
surance Act  be  conserved,  and  that  the  men  discharged 
from  the  service,  be  made  to  realize  what  are  their 
rights  under  this  act ;  and  that  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee be  empowered  and  directed  to  confer  with  the  War 
Risk  Insurance  Bureau,  that  it  may  carry  out  the 
purposes  herein  expressed;  and, 

BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  it  is  the  sense  of 
this  Caucus  that  the  War  Risk  Insurance  Act  be 
amended  to  provide  that  the  insured,  under  the  Act, 
may  be  allowed  to  elect  whether  his  insurance,  upon 
maturity,  shall  be  paid  as  an  annuity,  or  in  one  pay- 


204     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

merit ;  and  that  he  may  select  his  beneficiaries  regard- 
less of  family  relationship. 

8.     Alien  Slackers. 

WHEREAS,  there  was  a  law  passed  by  the  Congress 
of  these  United  States  in  July,  1918,  known  as  an 
Amendment  to  Selective  Service  Act,  giving  persons 
within  the  draft  age,  who  had  taken  out  first  papers 
for  American  citizenship,  the  privilege  of  turning  in 
said  first  papers  to  their  local  exemption  board  and 
thereby  become  exempt  from  service,  and, 

WHEREAS,  thousands  of  men  within  draft  age  who 
had  been  in  this  country  for  many  years  and  had  sig- 
nified their  intention  to  become  citizens,  took  ad- 
vantage of  this  law  and  thereby  became  exempted  from 
military  service,  or  were  discharged  from  military 
service  by  reason  thereof,  and  have  taken  lucrative 
positions  in  the  mills,  shipyards  and  factories;  and, 

WHEREAS,  in  the  great  world  war  for  democracy 
the  rank  and  file  of  the  best  of  our  American  manhood 
have  suffered  and  sacrificed  itself  in  order  to  uphold  the 
principles  upon  which  this  country  was  founded,  and  for 
which  they  were  willing  to  give  up  their  lif  e's  blood ;  and, 

WHEREAS,  these  counterfeit  Americans  who  revoked 
their  citizenship  in  our  opinion  would  contaminate 
the  100  per  cent,  true  American  soldier,  sailor,  or  ma- 
rine who  will  shortly  return  to  again  engage  in  the 
gainful  pursuits  of  life;  therefore,  be  it 

RESOLVED:  That  we,  the  American  Legion,  do 
demand  the  Congress  of  these  United  States  to  im- 
mediately enact  a  law  to  send  these  aliens,  who  with- 
drew their  first  papers,  back  to  the  country  from  which 
they  came.  The  country  in  which  we  live,  and  for 
which  we  are  willing  to  fight  is  good  enough  for  us; 
but  this  country  in  which  they  have  lived  and  pros- 


Resolutions  205 

pered,  yet  for  which  they  were  unwilling  to  fight,  is 
too  good  for  them,  and 

BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  we  demand  the 
immediate  deportation  of  every  alien  enemy  who  was 
interned  during  the  war,  whether  the  said  alien  enemy 
be  now  interned  or  has  been  paroled. 

9.  Disabled  Soldiers,  Sailors,  and  Marines. 

BE  IT  RESOLVED:  That  the  delegates  from  the 
several  states  shall  instruct  their  respective  organiza- 
tions to  see  that  every  disabled  soldier,  sailor  and 
marine  be  brought  into  contact  with  the  Rehabilita- 
tion Department  of  the  Federal  Board  at  Washington, 
D.  C.,  and, 

BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED:  That  the  secretaries 
of  the  various  states  be  instructed  to  write  to  the 
Federal  Board  for  literature  as  to  what  it  offers  to 
disabled  men,  and  that  the  members  of  the  Legion  be 
instructed  to  distribute  this  literature  and  to  aid  the 
wounded  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines,  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  governmental  assistance  and  that  every 
effort  be  made  by  the  American  Legion  in  the  several 
states  to  stop  any  attempt  to  pauperize  disabled  men. 

10.  Espionage  Act. 

RESOLVED  :  That  every  naturalized  citizen  convicted 
under  the  Espionage  Act  shall  have  his  citizenship  pa- 
pers vacated,  and  when  they  shall  have  served  their 
sentence  they  shall  be  deported  to  the  country  from 
which  they  came. 

11.  Resolutions. 

BE  IT  RESOLVED:  That  copies  of  these  resolutions 
be  forwarded  to  every  member  of  the  United  States 
Senate  and  to  each  Representative  in  Congress. 


LEGION   FACTS 

WHAT  has  gone  before  is  the  story  of  the  Amer- 
ican Legion  in  the  making.  Now  it  is  a  going, 
growing  institution. 

Because  it  will  be  of  vital  interest  and  impor- 
tance to  every  one  of  the  four  million  Americans 
who  wore  the  uniform,  the  following  information 
concerning  the  American  Legion,  in  the  form  of 
questions  and  answers,  is  here  given,  as  follows: 

(1)  What  is  the  American  Legion? 

(a)  It  is  the  organization  of  American  veterans  of  the  World 
War. 

(2)  Who  is  eligible? 

(a)  Any  soldier,  sailor  or  marine  who  served  honorably  be- 
tween April  6,  1917,  and  November  n,  1918. 

(3)  Are  women  eligible? 

(a)  Yes,  those  who  were  regularly  enlisted  or  commissioned 
in  the  army,  navy  or  marine  corps. 

(4)  When  was  the  Legion  started? 

(a)  It  was  first  organized  in  Paris,  March  15  to  17,  1919,  by  a 
thousand  officers  and  men,  delegates  from  all  the  units  of  the 
American  Expeditionary  Force  to  an  organization  caucus  meet- 
ing, which  adopted  a  tentative  constitution  and  selected  the  name 
"American  Legion. " 

(5)  What  has  been  done  in  America  regarding  it? 

(a)  The  action  of  the  Paris  meeting  was  confirmed  and  en- 
dorsed by  a  similar  meeting  held  in  St.  Louis,  May  8  to  10,  1919, 

206 


Legion  Facts  207 

when  the  Legion  was  formally  recognized  by  the  troops  who  served 
in  the  United  States. 

(6)  Are  the  organizations  in  France  and  America  separate? 

(a)  No.  The  Paris  caucus  appointed  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  seventeen  officers  and  men  to  represent  the  troops  in 
France  in  the  conduct  of  the  Legion.  The  St.  Louis  caucus  ap- 
pointed a  similar  Committee  of  Seventeen.  These  two  Executive 
Committees  have  amalgamated  and  are  now  the  governing  body 
of  the  Legion. 

(7)  Who  are  the  officers  of  this  national  governing  body? 

(a)  Henry  D.  Lindsley,  Texas,  Chairman;  Bennett  C.  Clark, 
Missouri,  Vice-Chairman;  Eric  Fisher  Wood,  Pennsylvania, 
Secretary;  Caspar  G.  Bacon,  Massachusetts,  Treasurer. 

(8)  Where    are    the    temporary  National   Headquarters    of  the 
Legion? 

(a)     At  19  West  44th  Street,  New  York  City. 

(9)  When  will  the  final  step  in  the  organization  of  the  Legion 
take  place? 

(a)  November  10,  n  and  12,  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  when  a 
great  National  Convention  will  be  held. 

(10)  Why  were  those  dates  selected? 

(a)  Because  by  that  time  practically  all  of  the  men  of  the 
A.  E.  F.  will  be  at  home  and  will  have  been  able  to  participate  in 
the  election  of  their  delegates  to  the  Convention. 

(n)  Who  were  some  of  the  men  who  initiated  the  formation  of 
the  Legion? 

(a)  Lt.  Col.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  of  the  First  Division;  Col. 
Henry  D.  Lindsley,  formerly  Mayor  of  Dallas,  Texas;  Sgt.  "Jack" 
Sullivan,  of  Seattle;  Lt.  Col.  Franklin  D'Olier,  of  Philadelphia; 
Ex- Senator  Luke  Lea,  of  Tennessee;  Lt.  Col.  Frederick  Huede- 
koper,  of  Washington,  D.  C.;  Major  Redmond  C.  Stewart,  of 
Baltimore;  Wagoner  Dale  Shaw,  of  Iowa;  Lt.  Col.  George  A. 
White,  of  Oregon;  "Bill"  Donovan,  of  the  "Fighting  69th"; 
Major  Thomas  R.  Gowenlock,  of  Illinois;  Sgt.  Alvin  C.  York, 
of  Tennessee;  Colonel  John  Price  Jackson,  of  the  S.  O.  S. ;  Lt.  Col. 
"Jack"  Green  way,  of  Arizona;  Sgt.  Roy  C.  Haines,  of  Maine; 
George  Edward  Buxton,  of  Rhode  Island;  Eric  Fisher  Wood,  of 
Pennsylvania;  Chaplain  John  W.  Inzer,  of  Alabama;  Lt.  Col. 


208     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

David  M.  Goodrich,  of  Akron;  Chief  Petty  Officer  B.  J.  Goldberg, 
of  Chicago;  "Tom"  Miller,  of  Delaware;  Major  Alex.  Laughlin, 
Jr.,  of  Pittsburgh;  Major  Henry  Leonard,  of  the  Marine  Corps; 
Dwight  J.  Davis,  of  the  35th  Division;  Corporal  Charles  S.  Pew, 
of  Montana;  General  William  G.  Price,  of  the  28th  Division; 
Bishop  Charles  S.  Brent,  Senior  Chaplain  of  the  A.  E.  F. ;  Gen- 
eral O'Ryan,  of  the  27th  Division;  Stewart  Edward  White,  of 
California;  Private  Jesus  M.  Baca,  of  New  Mexico;  General 
Charles  H.  Cole,  of  the  26th  Division;  Sgt.  E.  L.  Malsbary,  of 
Nevada;  Lt.  Samuel  Gompers,  Jr.,  of  New  York;  Col.  Henry  L. 
Stimpson,  Ex-Secretary  of  War;  Lt.  Col.  Charles  W.  Whittlesey, 
Commander  of  the  "Lost  Battalion";  Leroy  Hoffman,  of  Okla- 
homa; Lt.  Col.  A.  Piatt  Andrew,  of  the  American  Ambulance  in 
France;  General  Harvey  J.  Moss,  of  the  State  of  Washington; 
John  Mac  Vicar,  Mayor  of  Des  Moines  before  the  War;  Sgt. 
George  H.  H.  Pratt,  of  New  Orleans;  Col.  F.  C.  Galbraith,  of 
Cincinnati;  Corporal  Joseph  H.  Fountain,  of  Vermont;  Devereux 
Milburn,  of  the  78th  Division;  Lt.  Col.  Wilbur  Smith,  of  the  89th 
Division;  Sgt.  Theodore  Myers,  of  Pennsylvania;  Col.  Bennett  C. 
Clark,  son  of  Champ  Clark;  Robert  Bacon,  Ex-Secretary  of  State. 

(12)     What  did  the  Legion  do  at  its  St.  Louis  caucus? 

(a)  It  demanded  investigation  of  the  pardon  and  subsequent 
honorable  discharge  by  the  War  Department  of  convicted  con- 
scientious objectors. 

(b)  It  condemned  the  action  of  the  I.  W.  Ws.,  the  Anarchists, 
and  the  International  Socialists. 

(c)  It  protested  against  certain  nefarious  business  concerns 
who  are  employing  men  in  uniform  to  peddle  their  wares. 

(d)  It  recommended  that  Congress  should  take  steps  to  re- 
claim arid,  swamp  and  cut  over  timber  lands  and  give  the  work 
of  doing  this  to  ex-service  men,  and  give  the  land  to  them  when 
it  had  been  made  available  for  farming  purposes. 

(e)  It  demanded  of  Congress  the  same  disability  pay  for  men 
of  the  National  Guard  and  National  Army  as  now  pertains  to 
those  in  the  Regular  establishment. 

(f)  It  initiated  a  campaign  to  secure  to  service  men  their 
rights  and  privileges  under  the  War  Risk  Insurance  Act. 

(g)  It  demanded  that  Congress  should  deport  to  their  own 
countries  those  aliens  who  refused  to  join  the  colors  at  the  out- 
break of  the  war,  and  pleaded  their  citizenship  in  other  countries 
to  escape  the  draft. 


Legion  Facts  209 

(h)  It  undertook  to  see  that  disabled  soldiers,  sailors  and 
marines  should  be  brought  into  contact  with  the  Rehabilitation 
Department  of  the  Government,  which  department  helps  them 
to  learn  and  gain  lucrative  occupations. 

(i)  It  authorized  the  appointment  of  a  competent  legislative 
committee  to  see  that  the  above  recommendations  were  effectively 
acted  upon  by  Congress,  and  that  committee  has  been  appointed 
and  is  now  at  work. 

(j)  It  authorized  the  establishment  of  a  bureau  to  aid  service 
men  to  get  re-employment ;  and  of  a  legal  bureau  to  help  them  get 
from  the  Government  their  overdue  pay  and  allotments.  These 
two  bureaus  are  being  organized  at  the  National  Headquarters  of 
the  Legion  and  will  be  in  active  operation  by  July  ist. 

(13)  What  else  did  the  St.  Louis  caucus  do? 

(a)  It  endorsed  all  steps  taken  by  the  Paris  caucus,  and 
adopted  a  temporary  constitution  which  conformed  to  the  tenta- 
tive constitution  adopted  in  Paris. 

(14)  What  does  this  Constitution  stand  for? 

(a)  The  preamble  answers  that  question;  it  reads:  "For 
God  and  Country  we  associate  ourselves  together  for  the  following 
purposes:  To  uphold  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  of  America;  to  maintain  law  and  order;  to  foster  and  per- 
petuate a  one  hundred  per  cent.  Americanism;  to  preserve  the 
memories  and  incidents  of  our  association  in  the  Great  War;  to 
inculcate  a  sense  of  individual  obligations  to  the  community,  stau, 
and  nation;  to  combat  the  autocracy  of  both  the  classes  and  the 
masses;  to  make  right  the  master  of  might;  to  promote  peace  and 
good  will  on  earth;  to  safeguard  and  transmit  to  posterity  the 
principles  of  justice,  freedom  and  democracy;  to  consecrate  and 
sanctify  our  comradeship  by  our  devotion  to  mutual  helpfulness.  " 

(15)  How  does  the  Legion  govern  itself? 

(a)  The  Constitution  provides  that  the  legislative  body  of  the 
organization  shall  be  a  national  convention,  to  be  held  annually 
.  .  .  composed  of  delegates  and  alternates  from  each  state,  from 
the  District  of  Columbia  and  from  each  territory  and  territorial 
possession  of  the  United  States. 

•^(16)     How  is  the  Legion  organized? 

(a)  It  is  composed  of  State  Branches,  and  these  in  turn  are 
made  up  of  Local  Posts. 


2io    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

(17)  What  is  a  Local  Post? 

(a)  The  Constitution  states  that  a  Local  Post  shall  have  a 
minimum  membership  of  fifteen.  No  Post  shall  be  received  into 
the  Legion  until  it  has  received  a  charter.  A  Post  desiring  a 
charter  shall  apply  for  it  to  the  State  Branch,  and  the  charter  will 
be  issued,  upon  recommendation  of  this  State  Branch,  by  the  Na- 
tional Executive  Committee.  No  Post  may  be  named  after  any 
living  person. 

( 1 8)  How  can  I  join  the  A  merican  Legion? 

(a)  By  filling  out  the  Enrollment  Blank  on  the  last  page  of 
this  booklet  and  mailing  it  to  the  State  Secretary  of  your  home 
state,  whose  name  is  listed  below.  If  there  is  a  Local  Post  in 
your  home  town,  your  name  and  address  will  be  sent  to  the  Post 
Commander.  If  there  is  no  Post  in  your  home  town,  START  ONE, 
write  your  State  Secretary  for  the  necessary  particulars.  The 
State  Secretaries  are: 

ALABAMA. — Leroy  Jacobs,  care  Jacobs  Furniture  Co.,  Birming- 
ham. 

ARIZONA. — Fred  B.  Townsend,  National  Bank,  Arizona  Bldg., 
Phoenix. 

ARKANSAS. — Granville  Burrow,  Little  Rock. 

CALIFORNIA. — E.  E.  Bohlen,  926  Flood  Bldg.,  San  Francisco. 

COLORADO. — Morton  M.  David,  401  Empire  Bldg.,  Denver. 

CONNECTICUT. — Alfred  A.  Phillips,  Jr.,  1 10  Glenbrook  Rd.,  Stam- 
ford. 

DELAWARE. — L.  K.  Carpenter,  Du  Pont  Bldg.,  Wilmington. 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. — Howard  Fisk,  833  Southern  Bldg., 
Washington. 

FLORIDA. — J.  T.  Wiggington,  818  isth  St.,  Miami. 

GEORGIA. — Louis  H.  Bell,  care  of  Service  Record,  208  Flatiron 
Bldg.,  Atlanta. 

HAWAII. — J.  P.  Morgan,  Box  188,  Honolulu. 

IDAHO. — Laverne  Collier,  Pocatello. 

ILLINOIS. — Name  not  received  yet. 

INDIANA. — L.  Russell  Newgent,  518  Hume  Monsur  Bldg.,  In- 
dianapolis. 

IOWA. — John  Mac  Vicar,  336  Hubbell  Bldg.,  Des  Moines. 

KANSAS. — Ike  Lambert,  Emporia. 

KENTUCKY. — D.  A.  Sachs,  Louisville. 

LOUISIANA. — T.  H.  H.  Pratt,  721  Hibernia  Bank,  New  Orleans. 


Legion  Facts  211 

MAINE. — James  L.  Boyle,  184  Water  St.,  Augusta. 

MARYLAND. — Alex.  Randall,  12  West  Chase  St.,  Baltimore. 

MASSACHUSETTS. — George  F.  Gilbody,  3  Van  Winkle  St.,  Boston. 

MICHIGAN. — Ryle  D.  Tabor,  312  Moffatt  Bldg.,  Detroit. 

MINNESOTA. — Merle  E.  Eaton,  care  of  Lee  &  Lewis  Grain  Co., 
200  Corn  Exchange  Bldg.,  Minneapolis. 

MISSISSIPPI. — John  M.  Alexander,  Jackson. 

MISSOURI. — Ed.  J.  Cahill,  Service  Commission,  Jefferson  City. 

MONTANA. — Ben  W.  Barnett,  Helena. 

NEBRASKA. — Allan  A.  Tukey,  ist  National  Bank  Bldg.,  Omaha. 

NEVADA. — J.  D.  Salter,  Winnimucca. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. — Frank  J.  Abbott,  Manchester. 

NEW  JERSEY. — George  W.  C.  McCarter,  765  Broad  St.,  Newark. 

NEW  MEXICO. — Harry  Howard  Dorman,  Santa  Fe\ 

NEW  YORK. — Wade  H.  Hayes,  140  Nassau  St. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. — Charles  N.  Hulvey,  A.  &  E.  College,  Raleigh. 

NORTH  DAKOTA. — Ed.  E.  Gearey,  Fargo. 

OHIO. — Chalmers  R.  Wilson,  Adj.  Gen.  Office,  State  House, 
Columbus. 

OKLAHOMA. — F.  W.  Fisher,  Oklahoma  City. 

OREGON. — Dow  V.  Walker,  care  Multnomah  Club,  Portland. 

PENNSYLVANIA. — George  F.  Tyler,  121  S.  5th  St.,  Philadelphia. 

RHODE  ISLAND. — James  E.  Cummiskey,  Crompton. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. — Ben.  D.  Fulton,  32  West  Evans  St.,  Florence. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA. — J.  C.  Denison,  Vermillion. 

TENNESSEE. — W.  R.  Craig,  Nat.  Life  and  Accident  Co.,  Nash- 
ville. 

TEXAS. — J.  A.  Belzer,  Austin. 

UTAH. — Baldwin  Robertson,  409  Ten  Boston  Bldg.,  Salt  Lake 
City. 

VERMONT. — Joseph  H.  Fountain,  138 Colchester  Ave.,  Burlington. 

VIRGINIA. — R.  G.  M.  Ross,  508  First  National  Bank  Bldg.,  New- 
port News. 

WASHINGTON. — George  R.  Drever,  care  Adj.  Gen.  Office,  Arm- 
ory, Seattle. 

WEST  VIRGINIA. — Chas.  McCamic,  904  National  Bank  of  West 
Virginia  Bldg.,  Wheeling. 

WISCONSIN. — R.  N.  Gibson,  Grand  Rapids. 

WYOMING. — R.  H.  Nichols,  Casper. 


WHAT  THE  PUBLIC  PRESS  THINKS 

IT  is  interesting  to  know  what  the  press  of  the 
United  States  thinks  of  the  American  Legion. 
Practically  every  newspaper  in  the  country  hon- 
ored the  Legion  with  comment.  In  almost  every 
instance  it  was  favorable.  Selection  has  been 
made  of  some  of  this  comment — as  much  as  is 
feasible  to  give  here.  It  is  of  two  kinds:  first, 
what  the  press  thought  of  the  idea  of  the  Legion, 
and  second,  what  opinion  it  had  of  the  Legion 
after  it  was  launched  at  St.  Louis.  The  first  type 
of  comment  was  made  prior  to  the  caucus  in  this 
country  and  the  second,  afterwards.  Comment 
on  both  types  was  generally  favorable. 

Lest  insincerity  be  charged  let  it  be  said  here 
that  there  was  some  unfavorable  comment.  One 
New  England  paper  was  surprised  that  soldiers, 
sailors  and  marines  were  not  clever  enough  to  know 
that  the  American  people  would  perceive  their 
attempt,  through  this  organization,  to  "  drive  a  six 
mule  team  through  the  Treasury  "  and  get  pension 
and  pay  grabs.  One  Southern  paper  pictured 
Colonel  Roosevelt  returning  from  the  St.  Louis 

212 


What  the  Public  Press  Thinks          213 

caucus,  a  defeated  candidate  for  the  chairmanship, 
with  all  hope  of  the  future  blasted,  while  one  in 
Ohio  said  with  equal  accuracy  and  solemnity  that 
14  there  is  no  need  of  such  an  organization  at  this 
time,  now  that  the  country  is  entering  the  era  of 
peace. " 

But  here  is  the  comment.  It  comes  from  north, 
east,  south,  and  west,  and  it  is  typical: 

New  York  Times,  April  10,  1919. — .  .  .  .  It  is  a  pleasure  to 
know  that  Lieutenant  Colonel  Theodore  Roosevelt,  the  worthy 
inheritor  of  a  beloved  American  name,  has  called  a  meeting  of 
soldiers  and  sailors  at  St.  Louis.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bennett 
Clark,  son  of  Mr.  Champ  Clark,  is  an  associate  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Roosevelt,  in  the  plan  for  an  organization  of  all  our  sol- 
diers and  sailors  as  the  American  Legion.  These  two  gentlemen, 
associated  in  a  patriotic  movement,  indicate  by  their  names  its 
common  national  purpose,  apart  from  politics  and  partisanship.  ( 
"A  nonpartisan  and  non- political  association  is  to  be  formed," 
says  Lieutenant  Colonel  Roosevelt,  "an  association  which  will 
keep  alive  the  principles  of  justice,  freedom,  and  democracy  for 
which  these  veterans  fought. ' '  Justice,  freedom,  and  democracy, 
without  partisanship !  The  idea  is  noble.  It  should  prevail. 

Leavenworth  (Kansas)  Post,  April  30,  1919. — .  .  .  .  The 
character  of  the  men  of  the  American  Army  who  are  promoting 
it  [the  Legion]  and  the  high  ideals  which  it  professes  and  proposes 
to  maintain  are  a  guaranty  that  it  will  be  a  power  for  helpful  ser- 
vice in  the  common  family  of  the  nation. 

The  plan  of  organization  sprang  from  the  desire  of  serious  and 
able  men  in  the  American  Army  to  maintain  the  high  ideals  for 
which  all  of  them  have  fought,  to  preserve  the  soldier  comradeship 
and  carry  it  over  into  civilian  life  as  an  element  of  broad  helpful- 
ness while  keeping  the  record  of  the  army  free  from  the  taintof  self- 
ish aims.  It  was  also  wisely  intended  to  forestall  by  the  creation 
of  one  big  genuinely  representative,  nonpartisan  and  democratic 
body,  the  formation  of  numerous  smaller  organizations  in  various 
places  by  men  intent  on  exploiting  the  soldier  sentiment  and  the 
soldier  vote  for  other  than  patriotic  purposes. 


214     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

New  York  Sun,  April  n,  1919. — .  .  .  .  The  American  Le- 
gion will  do  an  indispensable  service.  We,  who  have  lived  up  to 
the  past  few  years  in  an  agitation  of  protest  against  the  pension 
grab  must  now  make  our  minds  over  sufficiently  to  realize  that  in 
the  new  situation  we  run  immediately  into  danger  not  of  over- 
pensioning  the  veterans  of  to-day  but  of  neglecting  them. 

The  new  organization  must  of  course  be  nonpartisan  and  non- 
political.  Precedent  enough  exists  in  the  career  of  the  Grand 
Army  to  make  that  clear.  It  should  include  and  enjoy  the  guid- 
ance of  the  most  influential  military  men.  Politicians  it  will  have 
at  its  service  so  long  as  it  is  well  run  and  organized  from  within. 
Despite  its  proper  political  limitations,  it  should  serve  as  the  most 
salutary  means  to  influence  returned  soldiers  to  cling  to  plain  old 
Americanism,  shed  their  martial  acquirements  and  return  to  plain, 
praiseworthy  citizenship. 

Washington  Star,  April  10,  1919. — .  .  .  .  The  American 
Legion  is  to  be  welcomed  as  an  agency  for  the  promotion  of  the 
best  in  our  national  life.  It  will  represent,  with  other  things,  the 
majesty  of  numbers.  A  great  many  men  will  be  eligible  to 
membership ;  and  they  will  be  young,  and  full  of  hope  and  purpose. 
And  when  they  act  together  in  matters  within  the  scope  of  their 
organization  they  will  represent  a  force  to  be  reckoned  with  in 
the  formulating  of  public  policies. 

Brooklyn  Eagle,  April  n,  1919. — Organization  of  "The  Amer- 
ican Legion"  is  going  on  rapidilyin  every  State  in  the  Union. 
Vast  as  was  the  mass  of  eligibles  on  which  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  could  draw  after  the  Civil  War,  it  did  not  compare  with 
the  Legion's  bulk  of  raw  material.  There  will  be  a  formal  caucus 
on  May  8th,  at  St.  Louis,  of  a  real  representative  character,  in 
which  it  is  said  the  enlisted  men  of  the  army  and  navy  will  have  a 
majority.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Henry  L.  Stimson,  once  Secretary 
of  War,  outlines  the  plan.  He  believes  that  this  country's  future 
hereafter  is  in  the  hands  of  the  men  below  thirty  years  of  age  who 
fought  this  war.  He  trusts  that  the  lesson  in  practical  democracy 
afforded  by  military  experience  and  the  ideals  of  democracy  em- 
phasized by  military  enthusiasm  may  be  kept  permanently  alive. 

That  this  i>s  the  main  hope  of  the  more  active  organizers  we  have 
no  doubt.  Men  like  Major  General  O'Ryan,  General  Charles  I. 
Debevoise,  and  Colonel  Theodore  Roosevelt  and  Colonel  Robert 
Bacon  would  never  think  of  making  such  a  body  a  lever  for  pen- 


What  the  Public  Press  Thinks         215 

sion  legislation  or  an  agency  of  politics.  Yet  the  temptation  to  a 
divergence  from  the  higher  ideals  is  strong,  and  the  rank  and  file 
may  not  be  inclined  to  resist  it. 

St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat,  April  n,  1919. — .  .  .  .  Such 
societies,  it  has  been  proved,  are  never  partisan.  They  are 
invariably  exponents  of  broad-gauge  patriotism.  That  they  have 
great  political  influence  in  a  high  national  sense  is  true,  but  they 
have  never  misused  it  nor  ever  viewed  their  mission  in  a  narrow 
spirit.  They  preserve  the  touch  of  the  elbow  throughout  life, 
but  only  as  thorough  Americans,  devoted  first,  last,  and  always  to 
our  common  country. 

St.  Louis  is  proud  to  be  selected  as  the  place  for  the  inaugura- 
tion of  this  admirable  and  undoubtedly  perpetual  society.  All 
wars  are  represented  by  societies  formed  by  their  veterans,  and 
all  alike  have  been  truly  and  broadly  patriotic.  It  will  be  the 
same  with  the  new  order,  whose  membership  will,  on  the  strength 
of  numbers  called  to  the  colors,  far  exceed  any  former  parallel. 
This  event  will  be  a  datemark  in  our  patriotic  annals  and  in  the 
progress  of  the  nation. 

Syracuse  (N.  Y.)  Herald,  April  13,  1919. — It  has  been  earnestly 
stated,  as  might  have  been  expected,  that  the  American  Legion 
will  be  strictly  nonpartisan.  That  much  might  be  inferred  from 
the  circumstance  that  one  of  the  leading  associates  of  Roosevelt 
in  organizing  the  Legion  is  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bennett  Clark,  son 
of  the  late  Democratic  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
Colonel  Roosevelt  is  sufficient  authority  for  the  assurance  that 
the  movement  is  neither  partisan  nor  political.  He  calls  it  "an 
association  which  will  keep  alive  the  principles  of  justice,  freedom 
and  democracy  for  which  these  veterans  fought. ' '  Viewed  in  that 
sentimental,  ethical  and  patriotic  light,  it  is  a  commendable 
undertaking.  The  American  people  will  wish  it  well,  and  be  glad 
to  see  it  flourish.  .  .  . 

Norfolk  (V a.)  Dispatch,  April  9,  1919.— ^If  the  American  Legion 
now  in  process  of  organization  by  young  Colonel  Roosevelt  and 
his  associates,  clings  to  the  principles  of  foundation  and  holds  by 
the  purposes  proclaimed  by  its  founders,  it  may  become  a  mighty 
force  for  good  in  the  land.  It  will  be  composed  of  several  millions 
of  comparatively  youthful  Americans,  a  large  percentage  of  whom 
will  be  voters,  while  virtually  all  will  have  demonstrated  their 
readiness  to  fight  their  country's  battles  with  weapons  far  deadlier 


216     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

than  bullets.  .  .  .  This  assumes  the  legion  will  fulfill  the  part 
it  has  undertaken  to  play  in  the  country's  life.  If  it  should  de- 
generate into  a  selfish  protective  body,  it  will  be  worse  than  useless. 
But  there  is  little  reason  to  fear  it  will  fall  so  far  below  its  ideals 
while  there  is  every  reason  to  hope  it  will  be  a  powerful  factor  in 
helping  the  country  to  find  itself  again. 

New  Orleans  Item,  April  14,  1919. — The  American  Legion 
through  the  tremendous  influence  and  mighty  power  of  3,000,000 
organized  fighting  men,  is  certain  to  shape  and  control  the  des- 
tinies of  the  nation  in  years  to  come  to  an  extent  of  which  the  wise 
will  refrain  from  even  suggesting  a  limit.  With  the  announce- 
ment by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Theodore  Roosevelt  that  the  "Le- 
gion will  be  interested  in  policies,  but  not  in  politics, "  the  opin- 
ion may  safely  be  hazarded  that  the  great  political  parties  of  the 
country  are  due  to  have  new  mentors,  from  whom  they  may  be 
forced  to  look  anxiously  for  their  cues. 

Primarily  among  the  announced  purposes  of  the  Legion  is  the 
perpetuating  of  those  principles  of  justice,  freedom  and  democracy 
for  which  its  members  either  fought  or  stood  ready  to  fight.  On 
the  field  in  France  or  in  the  training  camps  at  home,  the  millions 
of  America's  best  manhood  have  learned  intimately  and  well  a 
new  lesson  of  individual  and  national  responsibility.  Such  les- 
sons, at  the  cost  they  were  obtained,  are  not  to  be  forgotten  or 
lost.  The  ideals  of  the  fighting  men  of  the  states,  producing  the 
valor  and  the  power  which  made  the  American  Army  irresistible, 
and  the  revelations  by  fire  of  new  realizations  and  brotherhood 
and  of  world  and  national  citizenship  are  surely  to  be  felt  in  the 
calm,  happier  times  of  peace. 

Philadelphia  Record,  April  10,  1919. — .  ...  If,  as  Colonel 
Roosevelt  predicts,  the  membership  shall  eventually  comprise 
4,000,000  men  who  were  in  the  military  and  naval  service  of  the 
United  States  in  the  late  war,  it  will  have  possibilities  of  power 
that  must  be  reckoned  with.  But  if,  in  the  long  life  before  it, 
the  American  Legion  shall  have  no  more  to  its  discredit  than  is 
summed  up  in  the  history  of  theG.  A.  R.  whose  ranks  are  now  so 
pathetically  thin,  it  will  have  been  a  worthy  follower  of  its  fathers. 

Pater  son  (N.  J.)  Evening  News,  May  7,  1919. — .  .  .  .  The 
new  organization  starts  its  career  deserving  and  receiving  the  good 
wishes  of  the  entire  country.  The  character  of  the  men  of  the 
American  army  who  are  promoting  it  and  the  high  ideals  which  it 


What  the  Public  Press  Thinks          217 

professes  and  proposes  to  maintain  are  a  guaranty  that  it  will  be 
a  power  for  helpful  service  in  the  common  family  of  the  nation. 

Duluth  (Minn.)  Herald,  May  24,  1919. — There  is  a  great  field 
for  the  American  Legion,  the  organization  of  American  veterans 
of  the  World  War,  and  judging  by  the  spirit  of  the  recent  conven- 
tion and  by  the  expressions  of  the  returning  delegates  as  reported 
in  the  press  of  the  country,  it  is  going  to  fill  that  field. 

And  the  field  that  awaits  it,  and  that  it  seems  to  intend  to  fill, 
is  a  field  of  a  vigorous  and  aggressive  effort  to  demand  and  enforce 
a  strong  and  coherent  and  consistent  Americanism. 

Not  the  swashbuckling  kind  of  Americanism — the  chip-on- the- 
shoulder  kind — the  we-can-lick-the-world  kind.  These  lads  of 
ours  are  the  last  in  the  world  to  preach  that  fool  kind  of  American- 
ism. For  they — or  at  least  those  of  them  who  crossed  the  seas 
and  fought  for  liberty  and  peace  on  the  other  side — have  seen  in 
the  case  of  Germany  what  that  kind  of  nationalism  comes  to, 
and  they  are  against  it. 

But  there  is  a  type  of  Americanism  which  is  utterly  free  from 
the  taint  of  militarism  and  jingoism,  but  that  yet  is  even  more 
dangerous  to  anybody  at  home  or  abroad  who  flaunts  the  spirit  of 
America  and  defies  its  power.  And  unless  the  signs  fail,  the 
American  Legion  is  going  to  express  and  embody  and  inculcate 
that  type  of  Americanism. 

Anaconda  (Mont.)  Standard,  May  24,  1919. — .  .  .  .  At  St. 
Louis  the  members  voted  down  all  proposals  for  obtaining  from 
Congress  increases  of  pay  for  the  soldiers  and  rejected  all  efforts 
to  obtain  canvasses  of  the  members  to  ascertain  their  preference 
as  to  parties  and  as  to  presidential  candidates.  Everything  was 
excluded  which  would  tend  to  committ  the  organization  to  any 
particular  party  or  any  particular  candidate.  Young  Colonel 
Roosevelt,  son  of  the  former  republican  president,  and  Colonel 
Bennett  Clark,  son  of  Champ  Clark,  former  democratic  speaker 
of  the  house,  joined  hands  in  the  endeavor  to  keep  partisanship 
and  politics  out  of  the  organization. 

Collier's  Weekly,  May  31,  1919. — A  national  convention  of 
American  soldiers  and  sailors  in  which  no  grievances  were  aired, 
no  political  axes  ground,  no  special  privileges  or  preferments  de- 
manded ;  where  oratorical ' '  bunk ' '  was  hooted  down ;  where  social 
discrimination  was  taboo  and  military  rank  counted  not  at  all; 
where  the  past  glories  of  war  were  subordinated  to  the  future 


218     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

glories  of  peace  and  where  the  national  interest  was  placed  above 
all  partisanship — that  is  something  new  under  the  sun.  It  was 
in  such  a  convention  held  in  St.  Louis  during  the  second  week  in 
May,  that  the  new  spirit  of  the  American  army  and  navy  ex- 
pressed itself  articulately  for  the  first  time  since  the  armistice  was 
signed.  The  birth  of  the  American  Legion  was  attended  by  cir- 
cumstances having  a  significance  comparable  with  those  sur- 
rounding the  signing  of  a  certain  document  in  Philadelphia  one 
hundred  and  forty- three  years  ago,  come  July  4th. 

A  brigadier  general  arises  to  * '  place  in  nomination  the  name  of  a 
man  who — ' '  and  is  cried  down  by  doughboys  with  calls  of  "  Name 
him !  Who  is  he? ' '  A  proposal  to  give  extra  pay  to  enlisted  men 
is  unanimously  defeated  because,  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  Roosevelt 
put  it,  "we  are  not  here  to  sandbag  something  out  of  the  Govern- 
ment, but  to  put  something  into  it. "  The  invitation  to  make 
Chicago  the  next  meeting  place  of  the  Legion  is  refused  because 
"American  soldiers  and  sailors  don't  want  to  go  to  a  city  whose 
mayor  would  be  ashamed  to  welcome  such  a  convention. "  A 
progressive  Republican,  son  of  a  famous  father,  refuses  the  chair- 
manship to  quiet  suspicion  of  personal  ambition,  and  the  office 
goes  to  a  Southern  Democrat  of  whose  party  the  gathering  is  in 
complete  ignorance. 

One  of  the  convention  stenographers  said:  "This  is  the  fun- 
niest convention  I  have  ever  attended. "  We  have  an  idea  that 
there  was  an  element  of  prophecy  in  her  homely  remark — a  body 
representing  more  than  four  million  American  soldiers  and  sailors 
that  makes  so  little  political  noise  is  likely  to  be  about  as  funny 
to  the  conventionally  minded  politician  as  a  bombardment  of 
gas  shells.  This  language  of  restraint  in  the  mouths  of  organized 
civilian  youth  may  prove  to  be  a  natural  companion  to  the  famous 
battle  slogan  of  the  A.  E.  P. :  "  Let's  go ! " 

New  York  Evening  Post,  May  3,  1919. — .  .  .  .  The  true 
usefulness  of  a  veterans'  organization  is  not  far  to  seek.  Like  the 
G.  A.  R.,  the  Legion  should  maintain  and  develop  the  comrade- 
ship bred  by  the  war.  It  can  assist  the  unfortunate  in  its  ranks; 
it  can  take  care  of  the  widows  and  orphans  of  soldiers,  in  so  far  as 
any  inadequacy  of  public  provision  seems  to  make  care  necessary . 
The  Legion  can  preserve  the  fame  of  soldiers  and  commanders, 
by  erecting  monuments,  by  seeing  that  histories  are  written,  and 
by  proceedings  of  its  regular  reunions.  It  can  foster  such  a  public 
recollection  of  the  great  deeds  of  the  war  as  well  as  broaden  and 


What  the  Public  Press  Thinks          219 

deepen  American  patriotism.  Sherman  remarked  in  1888  that 
there  was  some  danger  that  a  peace-loving  generation  in  time  of 
crises  "would  conclude  that  the  wise  man  stays  at  home,  and 
leaves  the  fools  to  take  the  buffets  and  kick  of  war. ' '  This  danger 
can  best  be  met  by  just  such  an  organization  as  the  G.  A.  R.,  with 
its  campfires  of  song  and  story.  Comradeship,  charity  and  pa- 
triotism— these  should  be  the  Legion's  watchwords. 

New  Haven  (Conn.)  Union,  April  16,  1919. — .  .  .  .  Its 
more  immediate  task,  as  its  promoters  see  it,  is  to  help  the  mem- 
bers and  the  families  of  members  who  maybe  in  need  of  assistance. 
No  comrade  of  the  great  struggle  is  to  feel  that  he  is  forgotten  and 
forsaken  by  the  comrades  who  served  the  same  great  cause.  Its 
large  and  more  permanent  duty  is  to  spread  the  sentiment  of 
patriotism,  to  set  an  example  of  love  of  country,  and  unselfish 
service,  to  keep  blooming  always  in  the  soldiers'  bosom  the  flower 
of  sacrifice  that  springs  from  every  soldier's  grave  in  Prance. 

Philadelphia  Press,  April  10,  1919. — The  organization  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  late  war  into  a  permanent  body  is  inevitable  and 
entirely  proper.  .  .  . 

Capper's  Weekly,  May  24,  1919. — The  American  Legion  organ- 
ized at  St.  Louis  is  the  new  G.  A.  R.  and  through  its  platforms  the 
views  of  the  soldiers  who  fought  in  France  will  be  heard.  It  is 
already  apparent  what  the  trend  of  that  sentiment  is.  Whatever 
military  system  this  nation  sets  up,  if  it  meets  the  approval  of  the 
two  million  men  who  served  the  nation  in  the  Great  War,  it  will 
be  democratic  in  spirit  and  as  far  as  possible  in  form.  It  will  be 
an  army  in  which  the  self-respect  of  the  common  soldier  will  be 
recognized.  The  returning  soldier  has  no  use  for  anyone  living 
here  who  is  not  wholly  American,  and  is  for  expelling  the  unna- 
turalized  alien  wherever  found.  Loyalty  to  the  Nation  is  funda- 
mental in  the  soldiers'  view. 

The  Nation  must  safeguard  itself  and  make  a  distinction  be- 
tween citizens  who  offer  themselves  and  their  all,  and  citizens 
who,  for  whatever  reason,  withhold  some  part  of  their  allegiance. 
Brutal  treatment  of  conscientious  objectors  is  neither  civilized 
nor  necessary,  but  a  differentiation  is  created  by  such  residents 
themselves,  and  there  should  be  corresponding  differentiation  in 
rights  and  protection.  This  is  one  of  the  subjects  that  the  re- 
turned soldiers  have  at  heart. 


220     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Post  Intelligencer,  Seattle,  Washington,  May  21,  1919, — .  .  .  . 
The  American  Legion  will  be  a  political  force  in  the  nation  as  it 
has  a  perfect  right  to  be.  No  organization  of  its  character  is  to 
be  held  together  by  the  cohesive  power  of  reminiscence.  Some- 
thing more  binding  is  required,  and  that  something  will  be  forth- 
coming whether  anyone  outside  the  Legion  likes  it  or  not.  .  .  . 

The  American  Legion  wrill  be  made  up  of  intelligent  young  men 
who  will  have  a  community  interest  and  whose  interest  can  only 
be  furthered  by  united  action.  They  will  know  that  nothing  is 
more  transient  than  public  gratitude,  and  they  will  assuredly  not 
rely  on  it. 

Rochester  (N.  Y.)  Times,  May  23, 1919. — At  its  first  convention 
held  recently  in  St.  Louis,  the  American  Legion  unanimously 
voted  down  a  proposal  to  seek  increased  bonus  money  for  the 
soldiers. 

At  that  same  meeting,  Theodore  Roosevelt,  Jr.,  refused  to  ac- 
cept official  leadership  of  the  organization  because  he  desired  to 
allow  no  ground  for  any  charge  that  he  wished  to  utilize  it  to  fur- 
ther his  political  career. 

Such  action  by  the  Legion  and  by  one  of  its  most  prominent 
members  warrant  its  organizers  in  working  to  enroll  all  the  men 
who  served  during  the  great  war. 

If  this  path  is  followed  the  American  Legion  will  be  a  force  for 
good  in  the  country's  affairs  as  well  as  a  bond  of  fellowship  among 
those  who  were  members  of  the  largest  army  ever  raised  by  this 
republic. 

Manchester  (N.  H).  Union,  May  27,  1919. — .  .  .  .  In  spite 
of  all  that  has  been  written  and  said  it  appears  there  still  remains 
some  mistaken  idea  and  prejudices  concerning  this  organization. 
The  purposes  of  the  American  Legion  are : 

1 .  To  uphold  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
of  America. 

2.  To  maintain  law  and  order. 

3 .  To  foster  and  perpetuate  a  one  hundred  per  cent .  American- 
ism. 

4.  To  preserve  the  memories  and  incidents  of  our  association 
in  the  Great  War. 

5.  To  inculcate  a  sense  of  individual  obligation  to  the  com- 
munity, state  and  nation. 

6.  To  combat  the  autocracy  of  both  the  classes  and  the  masses. 


What  the  Public  Press  Thinks         221 

7.  To  make  right  the  master  of  might. 

8.  To  promote  peace  and  good  will  on  earth. 

9.  To  safeguard  and  transmit  to  posterity  the  principles  of 
justice,  freedom  and  democracy. 

10.  To  consecrate  and  sanctify  comradeship  by  devotion  to 
mutual  helpfulness. 

This  is  the  program  and  platform  of  the  wonderful  organization 
whose  potential  membership  is  the  four  million  and  more  men 
who  wore  their  country's  uniform  in  the  war. 

It  is  big  enough  and  broad  enough  to  admit  every  man  and 
woman  who  joined  the  colors.  If,  as  has  been  intimated,  there 
are  some  few  ex-service  men  who  think  they  see  in  this  tremendous 
movement  something  personal  and  partisan,  they  should  take  the 
blinders  off,  forget  their  unworthy  fears,  and  come  out  into  the 
open  with  their  comrades,  determined,  as  every  man  is  who  has 
already  joined,  that  the  American  Legion  will  never  be  made  the 
vehicle  of  personal  ambition  nor  the  creature  of  partisan  purpose; 
but  will  be  conserved  to  foster  and  promote  only  those  high  pur- 
poses which  are  so  nobly  defined  in  the  language  which  is  quoted 
above,  taken  bodily  from  the  constitution  of  the  Legion. 

PITTSBURGH,  Gazette-Times,  May  29,  1919. — .  .  .  .  In  con- 
trast with  the  Grand  Army,  the  American  Legion  will  embrace  all 
sections  of  our  land.  Similarly  it  will  be  the  private  soldier's 
organization.  Military  honors  will  not  count.  Absolute  Amer- 
icanism is  to  be  its  dominating  principle.  With  the  dwindling 
ranks  of  the  Grand  Army  there  is  need  of  such  an  organization. 
The  Grand  Army  has  long  been  a  staunch  bulwark  of  patriotism 
but  time  is  doing  its  work.  Others  must  soon  take  up  where  the 
veterans  of  the  Civil  War  left  off.  Those  of  the  new  organization 
who  saw  service  overseas  possess  a  new  vision  of  what  America 
means.  Because  of  their  good  fortune  in  going  abroad  they 
reaped  an  advantage  over  those  who  were  denied  the  privilege, 
though  entitled  to  no  more  credit.  All  who  donned  the  uniform 
served.  With  an  organization  of  such  possibilities  in  numbers 
and  all  imbued  with  a  patriotic  fervor  the  safety  of  the  Republic 
against  the  machinations  of  those  who  would  tear  down  is  assured. 

Burlington  (Vt.)  News,  May  29,  1919. — So  far  as  actual  results 
are  concerned  America  gains  little  from  .the  peace  treaty.  If, 
however,  the  American  Legion  measures  up  to  the  standard  we 
believe  it  capable  of,  America  will  be  the  greatest  gainer  of  all  in 
the  war. 


222     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

Bridgeport  (Conn.)  Standard,  May  28,  1919. — The  statement 
that  the  American  Legion  is  to  let  politics  alone  is  good  news  to 
the  people  of  this  country  who  are  looking  toward  this  fine  organ- 
ization of  American  fighters  to  bring  to  our  national  life  some  of 
the  spirit  which  chased  the  Fritzies  back  to  the  Rhine.  The 
civilian  public  has  a  right  to  ask  what  are  the  aims  of  this  new, 
and  sure  to  be  powerful,  organization.  Four  million  men  are  of 
its  potential  membership.  These  four  million  are  to  be  found 
scattered  in  every  city,  village  and  hamlet  in  the  country.  They 
are  to  meet  on  terms  of  equality,  officers  and  men.  They  know 
how  to  work  together,  how  to  undergo  discipline  for  a  worthy 
objective,  and  how  to  go  over  the  top  in  action.  It  is  good,  then, 
to  know  that  this  new  four  million  is  not  to  be  a  political  machine. 
We  want  no  more  of  the  mawkish  of  either  fearing  or  catering  to 
the  "  soldier- vote. " 

Only  as  a  nonpartisan  organization  can  the  American  Legion 
do  its  best  work.  Its  able  leaders  know  this.  In  a  day  when  men 
are  fast  deserting  unworthy  party  emblems  to  stand  for  what  they 
think  right,  the  soldier  organization  will  have  a  wide  influence. 

We  hail  the  Legion. 

It  had  to  come  and  it  is  coming  strong  and  sure. 

Good  men  are  at  the  head  of  the  column,  and  better  men  than 
those  in  the  ranks  exist  nowhere  in  the  country. 

They  are  the  pick  of  the  best,  physically  best,  in  nerve  and  in 
courage,  best  in  point  of  training,  in  discipline  and  best  among  all 
the  nations  who  won  the  great  victory. 

There  is  still  a  fight  in  America.  Democracy  is  never  safe, 
only  being  made  safe.  Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty. 
Eternal  vigilance  without  regard  to  fear  or  favor  is  to  be  the  spirit 
of  the  American  Legion. 


COMMITTEES 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 


ALABAMA 

D.  W.  M.  Jordan 
John  W.  Inzer 

ALASKA 

Edgar  T.  Hawley 

ARIZONA 

John  C.  Greenway 

E.  P.  Conway 

ARKANSAS 
Joe  S.  Harris 
James  J.  Harrison 

CALIFORNIA 
H.  G.  Mathewson 
C.  E.  Palmen 

COLORADO 
H.  A.  Saidy 
E.  R.  Myers 

CONNECTICUT 

H.  C.  Meserve 
A.  M.  Phillips,  Jr. 

DELAWARE 

George  N.  Doris 
George  L.  Evans 


DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
N.  C.  Turnage 
E.  Lester  Jones 

FLORIDA 

Davis  Forster 
J.  T.  Wigginton 

GEORGIA 

Louis  H.  Bell 
J.  G.  Juett 

HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS 
J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

E.  C.  Booth 
Frank  Esterbrook 

ILLINOIS 

William  R.  McCauley 
Marshall  Field 

INDIANA 

Robert  Morehead 
C.  F.  Strodel 

IOWA 

H.  H.  Polk 
John  Mac  Vicar 


223 


224     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


KANSAS 

W.  S.  Metcalf 
Sidney  Moss 

KENTUCKY 

Henry  D.  Moorman 
D.  A.  Sachs,  Jr. 

LOUISIANA 
Allison  Owen 
Ralph  Michel 

MAINE 

Albert  Greenlaw 
Arthur  L.  Robinson 

MARYLAND 
H.  F.  French 
Wm.  A.  Huster 

MASSACHUSETTS 
G.  G.  Bacon 
J.  F.  J.  Herbert 

MICHIGAN 

Frederick  M.  Alger 
A.  C.  Doyle 

MINNESOTA 
Harrison  Fuller 
A.  M.  Nelson 

MISSISSIPPI 

Alex.  Fitz-Hugh 
Fred  Sullens 

MISSOURI 

Court  P.  Allen 
H.  Stattman 

MONTANA 

H.  L.  Blomquist 
C.  E.  Pew 


NEBRASKA 
John  G.  Maher 
Ed.  P.  McDermott 

NEVADA 

E.  L.  Malsbary 
T.  J.  D.  Salter 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
Frank  Knox 
Mathew  Mahoney 

NEW  JERSEY 
D.  B.  Muliken 
P.  J.  Ehrhardt 

NEW  MEXICO 
B.  M.  Cutting 
O.  A.  Larrizola,  Jr. 

NEW  YORK 

Theodore  Roosevelt,  Jr. 
Louis  Burrill 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


NORTH  DAKOTA 
J.  M.  Hanley 
G.  A.  Fraser 

OHIO 

J.  L.  Cochrun 
H.  W.  Snodgrass 

OKLAHOMA 
Roy  Hoffman 
Ralph  H.  Berry 

OREGON 

E.  J.  Eivers 
W.  B.  Follett 


Committees 


225 


PENNSYLVANIA 
Franklin  D'Olier 
A.  Laughlin,  Jr. 

RHODE  ISLAND 
A.  Johnson 
R.  B.  Weeden 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 
H.  B.  Springs 
M.  B.  Berkley 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 
J.  C.  Denison 
Joseph  S.  Pfeiffer 

TENNESSEE 
Luke  Lea 
Harry  S.  Berry 

TEXAS 

W.  E.  Jackson 
Rolland  Bradley 

UTAH 

Baldwin  Robertson 
Royal  Douglas 


VERMONT 

H.  Nelson  Jackson 
Joseph  Fountain 

VIRGINIA 

C.  Francis  Cooke 
Andrew  S.  Christian 

WASHINGTON 
L.  L.  Thompson 
Russ  Simonton 

WEST  VIRGINIA 
John  G.  Bond 
Charles  McCamic 

WISCONSIN 

James  Ackley 
G.  W.  Strampe 

WYOMING 
C.  M.  June 
L.  A.  Miller 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 
Hay  ward  H.  Hilly  er 
William  P.  Norton 

WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 
G.  H.  W.  Rauschkolb 
John  S.  Siebert 


RESOLUTIONS  COMMITTEE 


ALABAMA 

Matthew  H.  Murphy 

ALASKA 

James  Hawley 

ARIZONA 

Ed.  M.  Le  Baron 
15 


ARKANSAS 

Fred  N.  Tillman 

CALIFORNIA 
E.  H.  Dibble 

COLORADO 
H.  A.  Saidy 


226    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


CONNECTICUT 
F.  W.  Carroll 

DELAWARE 

George  N.  Doris 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
Charles  E.  Johnston 

FLORIDA 
Carroll  Ford 

GEORGIA 

Eugene  Sibert 

HAWAII 

J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

C.  M.  Booth 

ILLINOIS 

Marshall  Kearney 

INDIANA 

A.  C.  Duddelston 

IOWA 

H.  H.  Polk 

KANSAS 

W.  W.  Hollaway 

KENTUCKY 
M.  K.  Gordon 

LOUISIANA 

John  D.  Ewing 

MAINE 

Roger  A.  Greene 

MARYLAND 
H.  L.  French 


MASSACHUSETTS 
L.  A.  Frothingham 

MTCHIGAN 
Avery  Gilleo 

MINNESOTA 
S.  S.  Smith 

MISSISSIPPI 

Alex.  Fitz-Hugh 

MISSOURI 
H.  C.  Clark 

MONTANA 

Sam  Abelstein 

NEBRASKA 

Hird.  Stryker 

NEVADA 

E.  L.  Malsbary 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
Frank  Knox 

NEW  JERSEY 
E.  A.  Tobin 

NEW  MEXICO 
Roy  H.  Flamm 

NEW  YORK 
Robert  Marsh 

NORTH  DAKOTA 
J.  R.  Baker 

OHIO 

E.  J.  Rummell 

OKLAHOMA 
E.  E.  Atkins 


Committees 


227 


OREGON 

B.  E.  Leonard 

PENNSYLVANIA 

Fred  Hill 

PHILIPPINES 

Robert  R.  Landon 

RHODE  ISLAND 
W.  P.  Shunney 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 
William  G.  Buell 

TENNESSEE 
G.  P.  Anderson 

TEXAS 

Charles  R.  Tips 

UTAH 
R.  J.  Douglas 


VERMONT 
Guy  Varnum 

VIRGINIA 

John  J.  Wicker,  Jr. 

WASHINGTON 
John  J.  Sullivan 

WEST  VIRGINIA 
John  C.  Vaughan 

WISCONSIN 

Robert  Cunningham 

WYOMING 
L.  A.  Miller 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 
Joseph  P.  McGlinn 

WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 
Thomas  H.  Dempsey 


CONSTITUTION  AND  BY-LAWS  COMMITTEE 


ALABAMA 
Bibb  Graves 

ALASKA 

James  Hawley 

ARIZONA 

John  C.  Greenway 

ARKANSAS 

Burton  S.  Kinsworthy 

CALIFORNIA 

H.  G.  Mathewson 


COLORADO 
R.  Dickson 

CONNECTICUT 
W.  J.  Malone 

DELAWARE 

George  W.  Davis 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
John  Lewis  Smith 

FLORIDA 
J.  T.  Wigginton 


228     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


GEORGIA 
L.  H.  Bell 

HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS 
J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

C.  M.  Booth 

ILLINOIS 

C.  G.  Seeman 

INDIANA 

Scott  R.  Brewer 

IOWA 

Fred  M.  Hudson 

KANSAS 

P.  R.  Johnson 

KENTUCKY 

H.  D.  Haven  Moorman 

LOUISIANA 

Gus  Blanchard 

MAINE 

Roy  C.  Haines 

MARYLAND 

Wm.  A.  Huster 

MASSACHUSETTS 
W.  H.  Howard 

MICHIGAN 

Howard  Brink 

MINNESOTA 

E.  D.  McCarthy 

MISSISSIPPI 
Fred  Sullens 


MISSOURI 
Bennet  Clark 

MONTANA 

C.  E.  Pew 

NEBRASKA 

L.  J.  McGuire 

NEVADA 
J.  D.  Salter 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
Frank  J.  Abbott 

NEW  JERSEY 
Harlan  Besson 

NEW  MEXICO 

D.  H.  Wyatt 

NEW  YORK 
Hamilton  Fish 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

NORTH  DAKOTA 
H.  Y.  Semling 

OHIO 

J.  F.  Koons 

OKLAHOMA 
Horace  H.  Hagan 

OREGON 
Roderick  D.  Grant 

PENNSYLVANIA 
D.  G.  Foster 

RHODE  ISLAND 
Percy  Cantwell 


Committees  229 

SOUTH  CAROLINA  VIRGINIA 

Wm.  A  Stuart 

SOUTH  DAKOTA  WASHINGTON 
Wm.  G.  Buell  L.  L.  Thompson 

TENNESSEE  WEST  VIRGINIA 

Ed.  Palmer  Charles  W.  McCamic 

TEXAS  WISCONSIN 
Claud  Birdhead  Elmer  Owens 

UTAH  WYOMING 
R.  S.  McCarthy  R.  L.  Powers 

VERMONT  AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 
J.  Watson  Webb  Haywood  W.  Hillyer 

ORGANIZATION  COMMITTEE 

ALABAMA  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
Cecil  Gaston  Henry  Leonard 

ALASKA  FLORIDA 

James  Hawley  A.  H.  B landing 

ARIZONA  GEORGIA 

Alexander  B.  Baker  R.  L.  Wilson,  Jr. 

ARKANSAS  HAWAII 

Ross  Mathis  J.  P.  Morgan 

CALIFORNIA  IDAHO 

E.  E.  Bohlen  Taylor  Cummings 

COLORADO  ILLINOIS 

E.  R.  Meyer  Frank  Harrisoi 

CONNECTICUT  INDIANA 

P.  C.  Calhoun  J.  A.  Umpleby 

DELAWARE  IOWA 

Irving  Warner  Maris  B.  De  Wolfe 


230    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


KANSAS 

F.  C.  Stamford 

KENTUCKY 
J.  G.  Wheeler 

LOUISIANA 
Louis  Ginella 

MAINE 
James  U.  Boyle 

MARYLAND 

Wm.  B.  Wilmer 

MASSACHUSETTS 

G.  C.  Cutler 

MICHIGAN 
J.  F.  Young 

MINNESOTA 

Paul  McMichael 

MISSISSIPPI 
George  Hoskin 

MISSOURI 
F.  L.  Smith 

MONTANA 
C.  E.  Pew 

NEBRASKA 

Geo.  H.  Holveman 

NEVADA 

T.  J.  D.  Salter 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
George  V.  Fiske 

NEW  JERSEY 
R.  P.  Schenck 


NEW  MEXICO 
Don.  L.  Blevins 

NEW  YORK 

Parton  Swift 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


NORTH  DAKOTA 
J.  P.  Williams 

OHIO 

L.  J.  Campbell 

OKLAHOMA 

Hugh  Haughery 

OREGON 
J.  L.  May 

PENNSYLVANIA 
G.  A.  Rick 

RHODE  ISLAND 

Alex.  Johnson 
SOUTH  CAROLINA 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 
T.  R.  Johnston 

TENNESSEE 
W.  A.  Shadow 

TEXAS 

Arch  C.  Allen 

UTAH 

D.  E.  Rhivers 

VERMONT 

Leonard  Nason 


Committees 


231 


VIRGINIA 

C.  Brook  Bollard 

WASHINGTON 
Fred  Redinger 

WEST  VIRGINIA 
M.  V.  Godfrey 

WISCONSIN 
J.  C.  Davis 


WYOMING 

Wm.  Shortell 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 
Scott  W.  Lucas 

WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 
Charles  S.  Watkins 


CREDENTIAL  COMMITTEE 


ALABAMA 
Joseph  Yates 

ALASKA 

James  Hawley 

ARIZONA 

F.  P.  Bernard 

ARKANSAS 
Ivie  Herschel 

CALIFORNIA 
B.  W.  Herhart 

COLORADO 
J.  W.  Gwin 

CONNECTICUT 

F.  S.  Butterworth 

DELAWARE 

George  L.  Evans 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
S.  P.  Knut 

FLORIDA 

Davis  Forster 


GEORGIA 
J.  G.  Juett 

HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS 
J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

Paul  Peterson 

ILLINOIS 

Roger  Young 

INDIANA 
J.  W.  Todd 

IOWA 

P.  M.  Soper 

KANSAS 

I.  E.  Lambert 

KENTUCKY 

Richard  H.  Slack 

LOUISIANA 

G.  H.  H.  Pratt 

MAINE 
Albert  Greenlaw 


232     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


MARYLAND 
J.  S.  Davis 

MASSACHUSETTS 
G.  F.  Gilbody 

MICHIGAN 
H.  A.  O'Dell 

MINNESOTA 
George  Chapin 

MISSISSIPPI 

John  M.  Alexander 

MISSOURI 

D.  W.  Cronkite 

MONTANA 

Doug.  McCallum 

NEBRASKA 

Orlando  H.  Kearney 

NEVADA 

T.  J.  D.  Salter 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
John  Santor 

NEW  JERSEY 
C.  S.  Brady 

NEW  MEXICO 
Jesus  M.  Baca 

NEW  YORK 
J.  F.  Goerke 

NORTH  DAKOTA 
J.  P.  Williams 

OHIO 

H.  L.  Bimm 


OKLAHOMA 

F.  W.  Fisher 
OREGON 

C.  L.  Mullen 
PENNSYLVANIA 

E.  J.  Pennell 
RHODE  ISLAND 

F.  B.  Thurber 
SOUTH  DAKOTA 

T.  R.  Johnson 
TENNESSEE 

J.  D.  Robertson 
TEXAS 

John  S.  Hoover 
UTAH 

J.  G.  Wooley 

VERMONT 

Alexander  Smith 

VIRGINIA 

G.  R.  Poole 

WASHINGTON 
Fred  Fein 

WEST  VIRGINIA 
W.  J.  Simmons 

WISCONSIN 

M.  A.  Chybowski 

WYOMING 

D.  C.  McCarthy 

WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 
John  S.  Seibert 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 
H.  W.  Hillyer 


Committees 


233 


COMMITTEE  ON  PERMANENT  HEADQUARTERS 


ALABAMA 

Beach  Chenoweth 

ALASKA 

James  Hawley 

ARIZONA 

Alex.  B.  Baker 

ARKANSAS 

Wm.  Dougherty 

CALIFORNIA 
B.  L.  Shuman 

COLORADO 

D.  J.  Sparr 

CONNECTICUT 
B.  R.  Mathies 

DELAWARE 

E.  H.  Kane 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
L.  Clarkson  Hines 

FLORIDA 

A.  H.  Blanding 

GEORGIA 

Eugene  Sibert 

HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS 
J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

R.  R.  Wilson 


ILLINOIS 

Charles  Wham 

INDIANA 

M.  H.  Thomas 

IOWA 

Thompson  L.  Brookhart 

KANSAS 

W.  A.  Phares 

KENTUCKY 

E.  H.  Marriner 

LOUISIANA 
L.  P.  Beard 

MAINE 

Roger  A.  Greene 

MARYLAND 

F.  A.  Young 

MASSACHUSETTS 
W.  H.  Dolan 

MICHIGAN 
Wm.  King 

MINNESOTA 

D.  R.  St.  Julian 

MISSISSIPPI 
Robt.  Burnett 

MISSOURI 
A.  Field 


234    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


MONTANA 

Ben  W.  Barnett 

NEBRASKA 
Geo.  Gilligan 

NEVADA 

E.  L.  Malsbary 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
Arthur  Trufant 

NEW  JERSEY 
R.  F.  Ritter 

NEW  MEXICO 

O.  A.  Lorizolla,  Jr. 

NEW  YORK 

Thos.  John  Conway 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


NORTH  DAKOTA 
G.  A.  Fraser 

OHIO 

J.  L.  Hall 

OKLAHOMA 
Earl  McNally 

OREGON 

W.  P.  Follett 

PENNSYLVANIA 
C.  A.  Buettner 

PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS. 
Robert  Landon 


RHODE  ISLAND 
Walter  Sharkey 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 
W.  G.  Buell 

TENNESSEE 
Ed.  Buford 

TEXAS 

Roy  A.  Jamison 

UTAH 

J.  C.  Kundson 

VERMONT 
L.  H.  Nason 

VIRGINIA 

Robt.  P.  Wallace 

WASHINGTON 

C.  B.  McDonald 

WEST  VIRGINIA 
Geo.  S.  Houston 

WISCONSIN 
James  Pfeil 

WYOMING 
C.  M.  June 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 

H.  W.  Hillyer 

WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 
R.  A.  Thompson 


Committees 


235 


COMMITTEE  ON  PUBLICATION 


ALABAMA 

LeRoy  Jacobs 

ALASKA 

James  Hawley 

ARIZONA 

M.  E.  Cassidy 

ARKANSAS 
Roy  Penix 

CALIFORNIA 
Clair  Woolwine 

COLORADO 
W.  E.  Swink 

CONNECTICUT 
R.  C.  Vance 

DELAWARE 
Irving  Warner 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
Donald  McGregor 

FLORIDA 

Conrad  Ford 

GEORGIA 
L.  H.  Bell 

HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS 
J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

Paul  Peterson 

ILLINOIS 

Richard  M.  O'Connell 


INDIANA 
Robt.  Clee 

IOWA 

H.  D.  Lemley 

KANSAS 

M.  B.  Musselman 

KENTUCKY 

James  G.  Juett 

LOUISIANA 

Rudolph  Wienan 

MAINE 

Roy  C.  Haines 

MARYLAND 

A.  R.  Hagner,  Jr. 

MASSACHUSETTS 
Donald  Green 

MICHIGAN 
Chas.  D.  Kelley 

MINNESOTA 
Jno.  J.  Ahern 

MISSISSIPPI 

Chas.  R.  Dolbey 

MISSOURI 

Robert  Fullerton,  Jr. 

MONTANA 

Ben  W.  Barnett 

NEBRASKA 
A.  L.  Stuart 


236     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


NEVADA 

E.  L.  Malsbary 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
C.  Fred  Maher 

NEW  JERSEY 
Allen  L.  Eggers 

NEW  MEXICO 
Jesus  M.  Baca 

NEW  YORK 

Geo.  P.  Putnam 

NORTH  DAKOTA 
Arthur  Gorman 

OHIO 

H.  M.  Bush 

OKLAHOMA 
W.  T.  Burling 

OREGON 

B.  E.  Leonard 

PENNSYLVANIA 

Ammon  Monroe  Aurand,  Jr. 

RHODE  ISLAND 

Harry  F.  McKenna 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 
T.  R.  Johnson 


TENNESSEE 
H.  H.  Corson,  Jr. 

TEXAS 

John  W.  Young 

UTAH 

Leo  Meehan 

VERMONT 
L.  H.  Nason 

VIRGINIA 
D.  D.  Nei 

WASHINGTON 
Russ  Siminton 

WEST  VIRGINIA 
Geo.  S.  Houston 

WISCONSIN 

C.  M.  Huntley 

WYOMING 

Ralph  L.  Powers 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 

H.  W.  Hillyer 

WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 
C.  P.  Dimmitt 


ALABAMA 

B.  F.  Stoddard 

ALASKA    «. 

James  Hawley 


FINANCE  COMMITTEE 

ARIZONA 

M.  E.  Cassidy 

ARKANSAS 
Garland  Hurt 


Committees 


237 


CALIFORNIA 
E.  H.  Dibbley 

COLORADO 
Ed.  Krueger 

CONNECTICUT 
James  B.  Moody 

DELAWARE 
Irving  Warner 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
Howard  F.  Fiske 

FLORIDA 

Davis  Forster 

GEORGIA 

HAWAII 

J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

John  S.  Green 

ILLINOIS 

Albert  A.  Sprague 

INDIANA 

Chester  P.  Wolfe 

IOWA 

W.  R.  Hart 

KANSAS 

J.  B.  Brickell 

KENTUCKY 
R.  Ewall 

LOUISIANA 

Levering  Moore 


MAINE 

Waldemar  P.  Adams 

MARYLAND 

Alexander  Randall 

MASSACHUSETTS 
J.  Stewart 

MICHIGAN 

George  M.  Kesl 

MINNESOTA 
O.  H.  Baldwin 

MISSISSIPPI 

Paul  Chambers 

MISSOURI 

D.  G.  Hubbard 

MONTANA 

Arthur  Barry 

NEBRASKA 

William  Richie 

NEVADA 

T.  J.  D.  Salter 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
William  E.  Sullivan 

NEW  JERSEY 
Paul  De  Voise 

NEW  MEXICO 

F.  B.  Humphrey 

NEW  YORK 

M.  B.  Murphy 

NORTH  DAKOTA 

G.  A.  Fraser 


238     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 


OHIO 

B.  J.  Hard 

OKLAHOMA 

William  Viuer 

OREGON 

>  G.  L.  Mullin 

PENNSYLVANIA 
James  W.  Gary 

RHODE  ISLAND 
Jas.  Elinniskey 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 
J.  C.  Denison 

TENNESSEE 

Charles  R.  Bowman 

TEXAS 

C.  C.  Beavens 


UTAH 

Harold  R.  Smoot 

VERMONT 

Pearl  T.  Clapp 

VIRGINIA 
J.  T.  Wyatt 

WASHINGTON 
C.  S.  Sapp 

WEST  VIRGINIA 
Clarence  Jones 

WISCONSIN 

P.  R.  Minnahan 

WYOMING 

N.  V.  Swensen 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 

Louis  R.  Florin 

WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 
G.  H.  W.  Rauschkolb 


COMMITTEE  ON  NAME 


ALABAMA 

Norman  J.  Reiss 

ALASKA 

James  Hawley 

ARIZONA 

Fred  B.  Townsend 

ARKANSAS 

Roy  W.  Wood 

CALIFORNIA 
Clair  Woolwine 


COLORADO 
Robt.  G.  Allen 

CONNECTICUT 
P.  L.  Sampsell 

DELAWARE 
E.  H.  Kane 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
J.  Bentley  Mulford 

FLORIDA 
J.  T.  Wigginton 


Committees 


239 


OEORGIA 
J.  G.  Juett 

HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS 
J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

T.  A.  Peeney 

ILLINOIS 

Thos.  Harwood 

INDIANA 

Augustus  B.  Wilson 

IOWA 

Jackson  R.  Day 

KANSAS 

P.  K.  Cubbison 

KENTUCKY 
W.  O.  Sayers 

LOUISIANA 

Davis  McCutcheon 

MAINE 

Waldemar  P.  Adams 

MARYLAND 
G.  H.  Tieman 

MASSACHUSETTS 
J.  F.  McGrath 

MICHIGAN 
B.  B.  Bellows 

MINNESOTA 
W.  R.  Sturtz 

MISSISSIPPI 

Arthur  B.  Clark 


MISSOURI 

H.  W.  Holcomb 

MONTANA 

H.  L.  Blomquist 

NEBRASKA 

Frank  F.  Fischer 

NEVADA 

T.  J.  D.  Salter 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
W.  J.  Murphy 

NEW  JERSEY 
G.  H.  Stratton 

NEW  MEXICO 

C.  S.  Caldwell 

NEW  YORK 
E.  D.  Bunn 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


NORTH  DAKOTA 
L.  B.  Merry 

OHIO 

R.  E.  Shank 

OKLAHOMA 
Robert  B.  Keenan 

OREGON 

W.  B.  Follett 

PENNSYLVANIA 
B.  L.  Houck 

RHODE  ISLAND 
Jos.  San  Soneitr 


240     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

SOUTH  DAKOTA  WEST  VIRGINIA 

T.  R.  Johnson  Jas.  M.  Crockett 

TENNESSEE  WISCONSIN 

Barton  P.  Brown  john  P.  Szultek 

TEXAS 

WYOMING 
Russ  D.  Langdon 

Maurice  Dineen 

UTAH 

L.  J.  Seeley  AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION: 

H.  W.  Hillyer 
VERMONT 

Alexander  Smith  SOLDIERS  AND  SAILORS  COUN- 

VIRGINIA 

Robt.  R.  Wallace 

WASHINGTON  WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 

Rob.  S.  Gordon  John  S.  Seibert 


COMMITTEE  ON  EMBLEM 

ALABAMA  DELAWARE 

J.  F.  Gillem  E.  H.  Kane 

ALASKA  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA, 

James  Hawley  W.  G.  Glenn 

ARIZONA  FLORIDA 

Fred  B.  Townsend  Mr.  Bell 

ARKANSAS  GEORGIA 

Wendell  Robertson  J.  G.  Juett 

CALIFORNIA  HAWAII 

V.  W.  Gerhard  J.  P.  Morgan 

COLORADO  IDAHO 

M.  C.  Dameron  Paul  Davis 

CONNECTICUT  ILLINOIS 

J.  S.  Hurley  W.  C.  Mundt 


Committees 


24* 


INDIANA 

N.  J.  Buskirk 

IOWA 

A.  M.  Pond 

KANSAS 
Foss  Farar 

KENTUCKY 
H.  Reingold 

LOUISIANA 
W.  A.  Coon 

MAINE 

Frank  M.  Hume 

MARYLAND 
T.  H.  Scaffe 

MASSACHUSETTS 
H.  H.  Wheelock 

MICHIGAN 
P.  W.  Nickel 

MINNESOTA 
Conrad  Veit 

MISSISSIPPI 
W.  T.  Adams 

MISSOURI 
U.  P.  Haw 

MONTANA 

Worth  C.  Almon 

NEBRASKA 
R.  J.  Webb 

NEVADA 

T.  J.  D.  Salter 
16 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
Walter  J.  Hogan 

NEW  JERSEY 
J.  M.  Pancoast 

NEW  MEXICO 
F.  B.  Humphrey 

NEW  YORK 
F.  W.  Baldwin 

NORTH  DAKOTA 

Wm.  Stern 

OHIO 

E.  L.  King 

OKLAHOMA 
P.  A.  Fox 

OREGON 

R.  D.  Grant 

PENNSYLVANIA 
L.  L.  Felts 

RHODE  ISLAND 

F.  V.  Thurber 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 
J.  C.  Denison 

TENNESSEE 

W.  R.  Craig,  Jr.. 

TEXAS 

S.  P.  Boom 

UTAH 

Charles  Parsons.. 

VERMONT 

Joseph  Fontain 


242    The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

VIRGINIA  WYOMING 

W.  R.  Trotter 


WASHINGTON 
Fred.  J.  Shaw 

WEST  VIRGINIA 

Sam.  Solins 

WISCONSIN 

L.  J.  Woodworth 


WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 
Geo.  E.  Davis 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 
T.  R.  Smith 


COMMITTEE  ON  NEXT  MEETING  PLACE 


ALABAMA 
F.  M.  Ladd 

ALASKA 

James  Hawley 

ARIZONA 

Ed.  M.  LeBaron 

ARKANSAS 

Wm.  G.  Edgar 

CALIFORNIA 
B.  O.  Shuman 

COLORADO 
T.  H.  Wiles 

CONNECTICUT 
W.  D.  Copp 

DELAWARE 
Geo.  L.  Evans 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 
Louis  P.  Clephane 

FLORIDA 
Mr.  Bell 


GEORGIA 

R.  L.  Wilson,  Jr. 

HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS 
J.  P.  Morgan 

IDAHO 

Frank  Estabrook 

ILLINOIS 

Grover  Sexton 

INDIANA 

j.  B.  Reynolds 

IOWA 

B.  R.  Finch 

KANSAS 

Charles  I.  Martin 

KENTUCKY 

Frank  Bernhaint 

LOUISIANA 

Clifford  Stem 

MAINE 
James  L.  Boyle 


Committees 


243 


MARYLAND 
A.  C.  Solomon 

MASSACHUSETTS 
Marcus  Maddern 

MICHIGAN 

Frank  J.  Tobin 

MINNESOTA 

Loren  B.  Roberts 

MISSISSIPPI 
J.  S.  Fleming 

MISSOURI 
L.  C.  Lozier 

MONTANA 

Arthur  Barry 
NEBRASKA 

Allan  Tukey 
NEVADA 

E.  L.  Malsbary 
NEW  HAMPSHIRE 

H.  L.  Hereaux 
NEW  JERSEY 

A.  S.  Westcott 
NEW  MEXICO 

S.  S.  Caldwell 
NEW  YORK 

Fred  Gallager 
NORTH  CAROLINA 

NORTH  DAKOTA 

Wm.  Stern 

OHIO 
Ralph  Pearce 


OKLAHOMA 
W.  T.  Butts 

OREGON 
E.  J.  Elvers 

PENNSYLVANIA 
A.  I.  McRae 

RHODE  ISLAND 
Walter  Sharkey 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 

Wm.  G.  Buell 
TENNESSEE 

G.  C.  Milligan 
TEXAS 

L.  Nicholson 
UTAH 

Fred.  Jurgensen 
VERMONT 

J.  Watson  Webb 
VIRGINIA 

G.  R.  Poole 
WASHINGTON 

Albert  Johnston 

WEST  VIRGINIA 
Joseph  Jackson 

WISCONSIN 

C.  H.  Foster 
WYOMING 

Benj.  Gregg 
WORLD  WAR  VETERANS 

F.  H.  Rein 
AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 

J.  A.  Bernard 


ROSTER 


ALABAMA 

CHENOWETH,  BEACH  MEAD,  Birmingham.     U.  S.  N. 

GASTON,  CECIL  D.,  Birmingham.     Med.   Corps  U.   S.  A.  and 

A.  E.  F. 

GILLEM,  JENNINGS  F.,  Birmingham.     320  M.  G.  Bn. 
GRAVES,  BIBB,  Montgomery,     nyth  F.  A. 
INZER,  J.  W.,  Mobile.     I4th  Inf. 
JACOBS,  LER.OY  R.,  Birmingham.     38th  Inf. 
JORDAN,  WM.  M.,  Birmingham.     Evac.  Hosp.  No.  n. 
LADD,  FRANK  M.,  JR.,  Mobile.     U.  S.  N. 
LONG,  F.  M.,  Jasper.     7th  Inf.  gth  M.  G.  Bn. 
LUSSIER,  RICHARD  F.,  Birmingham.     M.  I.  D.  Gen.  Staff. 
MURPHY,  MATTHEW  H.,  Birmingham,     nyth  F.  A. 
REISS,  NORMAN  J.,  Mobile.    Q.  M.  C. 
STODDARD,  B.  S.,  Mobile.     49th  Inf. 
YATES,  JOSEPH  A.,  Birmingham,     nyth  F.  A. 

ALASKA 
HAWLEY,  EDGAR  T.,  Boise,  Idaho.     U.  S.  A. 

ARKANSAS 

BURROW,  G.  M.,  Little  Rock.     i8th  Inf. 

DOHERTY,  WILLIAM,  Jonesboro.     I53d  Inf. 

EDGAR,  WM.  G.,  El  Dorado.     i53d  Inf. 

HAMILTON,  SCOTT  D.,  Fayetteville.     346th  Inf. 

HARRIS,  JOE  S.,  Monticello.     I53d  Inf. 

HARRISON,  J.  J.,  Little  Rock.     Care  Pugh  Printing  Company. 

Instructor  Tr.  Camp. 
HERSCHEL,  IVIE,  Marion.     i54th  Inf. 
HURT,  GARLAND,  Newport.     i62d  Inf. 

244 


Roster  245 

JACKSON,  THOMAS  A.,  Little  Rock.     i54th  Inf. 

KINS  WORTHY,  B.  S.,  Little  Rock.     Off.  Tr.  Camps. 

LLOYD,  T.  H.,  Paragould.     I.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

MATHIS,  Ross,  Cotton  Plant.     2d  Inf. 

PENIX,  WM.  ROY,  Jonesboro.     Kelly  Fid.,  Tex. 

ROBERTSON,  W.  A.,  Ft.  Smith.     i3th  Aero  Squad. 

SMITH,  E.  Ross,  Little  Rock.     141  M.  G.  Bn. 

STAFFORD,  JOHN  L.,  Springdale.     io6th  Am.  Train  3  ist  Dhr. 

TAYLOR,  R.  P.,  Paragould.     Aerial  Ob.  C.  A.  C. 

TILLMAN,  FRED  A.,  Fayetteville,  i2th  F.  A. 

WOOD,  ROY  W.,  Little  Rock.     Naval  Aviation. 

ARIZONA 

BAKER,  ALEXANDER  B.,  Phoenix.     28th  F.  A. 
BERNARD,  E.  P.,  Tucson.     47th  M.  G.  Bn. 
CASSIDY,  M.  E.,  Bisbee.     Ad.  Gen.  Dep. 
GREENWAY,  JOHN  C.,  Warren.     loist  Inf. 
LEBARON,  EDWIN  M.,  Mesa.     Soist  P.  Inf. 
TOWNSEND,  FRANK  B.,  Phoenix.     F.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

CALIFORNIA 

BOHLEN,  E.  E.,  San  Francisco.     347th  F.  A. 
DIBBLEE,  BENJ.  H.,  San  Francisco.     F.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 
GEARHART,  B.  W.,  Fresno.     6o9th  Aero  Sq. 
HAMMOND,  LEONARD  C.,  San  Francisco.     9ist  Aero. 
HOUGHTON,  A.  D.,  Los  Angeles.     Am.  Serv.  League. 
KELLY,  E.  J.,  Los  Angeles.     64th  U.  S.  Inf. 
MATHEWSON,  H.  G.,  Alameda.     C.  A.  C. 
PALMER,  C.  E.  G.,  Coalinga.     Canadians. 
SHUMAN,  BLAIR  S.,  San  Francisco.     363d  Inf. 
SLOW,  ASHFIELD  E.,  San  Francisco.     347th  F.  A. 
WOOL  WINE,  CLARE  W.,  Los  Angeles.     8th  Inf.  Gen.  St. 

COLORADO 

ALLEN,  ROBT.  G.,  Denver.     305th  Inf. 
DAMERON,  M.  C.,  Pueblo.     Camp  Med.  Supp.  Depot. 
DAVTD,  MORTON  M.,  Denver.     2oth  Inf. 
DICKSON,  RAY,  Ft.  Collins.     30th  Serv.  Co. 
GWIN,  JNO  W.,  Pueblo.     158th  Inf. 


246     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

KRUEGER,  EDW.,  JR.,  Buena  Vista.     Air  Serv. 

LAWRENCE,  C.  W.,  Pueblo.     U.  S.  N. 

MALONEY,  B.  F.,  Pueblo.     8i5th  Pioneer. 

MYER,  E.  R.,  Boulder.     356th  Inf. 

SAIDY,  H.  A.,  Colorado  Springs.     34ist  F.  A. 

SPARR,  D.  J.,  Denver.     I57th  Inf. 

STUBBS,  ALBERT  L.,  La  Junta.     Medical  Corps. 

SWINK,  WALTER  E.,  Rocky  Ford.     U.  S.  N. 

WILES,  THOS  H.,  Denver.     Chaplain. 

CONNECTICUT 

BUTTER  WORTH,  DR.  S.,  New  Haven.     Chem.  War  Serv. 

CALHOUN,  PHILO  C.,  Bridgeport.     U.  S.  M.  C. 

CARROLL,  FRANCIS  W.,  Waterbury.     Presidential  Gd.  U.  S.  A. 

COPP,  WEBSTER  D.,  Norwich.     3Oist  M.  G.  Bn. 

HURLEY,  JAS.  S.,  Waterbury.     73d  Inf. 

MALONE,  WM.  J.,  Bristol.    A.  S.  (A). 

MATTHIES,  BERNARD  H.,  Seymour.     i05th  Spruce  Squad. 

MESERVO,  HARRY  C.,  Stamford.     68th  C.  A.  C. 

MOODY,  JAS.  B.,  JR.,  Hartford.     3Oist  Supply  Train. 

PHILLIPS,  ALFRED  N.,  JR.,  Stamford.    55th  F.  A. 

SAMPSELL,  P.  L.,  New  London.    U.  S.  N. 

TILEY,  MORTON  C.,  Essex.     U.  S.  A.  A.  S. 

DELAWARE 

DORIS,  GEO.  N.,  Wilmington.     364th  Inf. 

EVANS,  GEO.  L.,  Wilmington.     U.  S.  N. 

WARNER,  IRVING,  Wilmington.     Cement  Mill  Co.  No.  8. 

DISTRICT  COLUMBIA 

CLEPHANE,  LEWIS  P.,  Washington.     U.  S.  N. 
CONNOLLY,  FRANK  A.,  Washington.     31 2th  F.  A. 
FISK,  HOWARD  S.,  Washington.     U.  S.  N. 
GLENN,  WM.  G.,  Washington.     iO3d  M.  O.  R.  S. 
HINES,  L.  C.,  Washington.     F.  H.  165-117. 
JOHNSTON,  CHAS.  E.,  Washington.     U.  S.  Coast  Gd. 
JONES,  E.  LESTER,  Washington.     Sig.  Corps. 
KRUIT,  PRENTISS,  Washington.     U.  S.  N. 


Roster  247 

LEONARD,  H.,  Washington.     U.  S.  M.  C. 
MACGREGOR,  DONALD,  Washington.     Sig.  Corps. 
MULFORD,  J.  B.     Washington.     i65th  Field  Hosp.  Co. 
SMITH,  JNO.  L.,  Washington.     Mil.  Intell.  Div. 
TURNAGE,  M.  C.,  Washington.     P.  M.  G.  O. 


FLORIDA 

FORSTER,  DAVIS,  New  Smyrna.     M.  C. 
GIVENS,  MORRIS  M.,  Tampa.     3ist  Div. 
LOWRY,  S.  L.,  JR.,  Tampa.     3ist  Div. 
McGucKEN,  HAROLD,  Tampa.     i24th  Inf. 
WIGGINTON,  J.  T.,  Miami.      I24th  Inf. 


GEORGIA 

BELL,  Louis  H.,  Atlanta.     2Oth  M.  G.  Bn. 
HILLYER,  HAYWOOD  H.,  Macon.     49  M.  G.  Bn. 
JUETT,  J.  G.,  Atlanta.     1226!  Inf. 
SIEBERT,  EUGENE,  Atlanta.     437th  Det.  Eng.  Corp. 
STOCKBREDGE,  BASIL,  Atlanta.     i22d  Inf. 
WILSON,  ROBT.  L.,  JR.,  Atlanta.     I22d  Inf. 


HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS 
MORGAN,  JAS.  P.,  Hawaii.     Inf.  Replac.  Troops  Camp  Grant,  I1L 

IDAHO 

BOOM,  EUGENE  C.,  Moscow.     i8th  Eng. 
BOOTH,  C.  M.,  Pocatello.     44th  Inf. 
COLLIER,  L.  R.,  Pocatello.     i63d  Inf. 
CUMMINS,  TAYLOR,  Twin  Falls.     Coast  Art. 
DAVIS,  PAUL,  Boise".     I.  C.  O.  T.  S. 
ESTABROOK,  FRANK,  Nampa.     i46th  M.  G.  Bn. 
FEENEY,  THOS.  A.,  Lewiston. 
GREEN,  JNO.  S.,  Twin  Falls,     ist  St.  Inf. 
PETERSON,  PAUL  T.,  Idaho  Falls.     75th  Inf. 
WILSON,  ALBERT  H.,  Clarks  Fork.     Q.  M.  C. 
WILSON,  R.  R.,  Pocatello.     Inf.  (unassigned). 


248     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

ILLINOIS 

ADAMS,  M.  E.,  Chicago.     Q.  M.  C. 

ADLER,  MORRIS,  Quincy.     ist  O.  T.  Sch. 

AJLLEN,  ROYAL  B.,  Marseilles.     Q.  M.  C. 

ARNOLD,  B.  J.,  Chicago.     Air  Serv. 

AYRES,  LESTER  G.,  Oak  Park.     C.  A.  School. 

BOLIN,  JAS.  R.,  Paris.     2d  Div. 

BOOSE,  Jos.  I.,  Chicago.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

BURNETT,  GEO.,  Shelbyville.     i3oth  Inf. 

BURNS,  J.  H.,  Carrollton.     337th  F.  A. 

BUSCH,  A.  H.,  Cicero,     i  i7th  M.  G.  Bn. 

CAVE,  ROBT.  R.,  Chicago.     Q.  M.  C. 

COLLINS,  W.  H.,  Decatur.     iiQth  Inf. 

CUMMINGS,  JNO.  P.,  Chicago.     Tank  Corps. 

CURRIER,  C.  L.,  La  Grange.     25th  Eng. 

DICKERSON,  EARL  B.,  Chicago.     365th  Inf. 

BUTCHER,  EVERETT  C.,  Dixon.     3426.  Inf. 

EISENBERG,  SAM  J.,  Chicago.     3320!  F.  A. 

ENGLE,  ROBT.  H.,  Freeport.     4ist  Inf. 

EVERSON,  CHAS.  W.,  Chicago.     A.  S.  Sig.  R.  C. 

FAYART,  L.  E.,  Springfield.     9th  F.  A. 

FIELD,  MARSHALL,  Chicago.     F.  A. 

FLANNERY,  FRANK  B.,  Chicago,  Beach  Hotel,  22ist  F.  Sig.  Bn. 

FLORY,  ROGER,  Chicago.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

FLOYD,  JNO.  A.,  Chicago.     6th  Cav. 

FORMAN,  HAROLD,  Chicago.     720!  F.  A. 

FREID,  SAM'L  L.,  Chicago.     5oth  Inf. 

GOLDBERG,  B.  L.,  Chicago.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

GOREY,  THOS.  V.,  Joliet.     Q.  M.  C. 

GOWENLOCK,  THOS.  R.,  Chicago,     ist  Div. 

GREENE,  JNO.  J.,  Chicago.     C.  M.  G.  O.  T.  S. 

HANA,  LEO  G.,  Peoria.     34 ist  Inf. 

HARDWOOD,  THOS.  F.,  Bloomington.     343d  Inf. 

HARRISON,  F.  J.,  Streator.     ist  C.  O.  T.  S. 

HARTFORD,  C.  E.,  Marseilles.     Ordnance. 

HARTRICK,  GUY  R.,  Urbana.     Ordnance. 

HELFRICH,  GEO.  R.,  Chicago.     I7th  Inf. 

HINDERT,  GEO.  C.,  Minonk.     U.  S.  N. 

HIPPLER,  S.  H.,  Canton.     5th  Reg. 

HIRSTEIN,  A.  K.,  Fairbury.     i2Qth  Inf. 

HUGHES,  JNO.  E.,  Chicago.    A.  S. 


Roster  249 

ICKES,  FAY,  Springfield.     3ioth  F.  Sig.  Bn. 

JEFFERSON,  E.  A.,  Chicago.     604th  Eng. 

JENKINS,  NEWTON,  Chicago.     5th  Reg. 

KEARNEY,  MARSHALL  V.,  Chicago.     3036!  Bn.  Tank  Corps. 

KELLEY,  W.  L.,  Shelbyville.     Chem.  War  Serv. 

KENDRICK,  J.  E.,  Lincoln.     i6ist  Dep.  Br. 

KINGSTON,  RAY,  Shelbyville.     iiQth  Inf. 

KRAATZ,  C.  F.,  Carbondale.     i6ist  D.  B. 

LAUER,  ROBT.  J.,  Chicago.     344th  Inf. 

LEE,  HARRY  V.,  Chicago.     Signal  Corps. 

LING,  WALTER,  Evansville.     usth  Inf. 

LYNDE,  CORNELIUS,  Chicago.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

MACAULAY,  IRWIN,  Quincy.    Ordnance. 

MARKLEY,  H.  G.,  Watseka.     n6th  Eng. 

MARSH,  A.  F.,  Chicago.     Const.  Div. 

MARSHALL,  THOS.  H.,  Chicago.     Inf. 

McCAULEY,  W.  R.,  Olney.     3o8th  Bn.  Tank  Corps. 

MEIERHOFER,  EDW.  H.,  Minonk.     68th  Art. 

MERRICK,  MARLOWE  M.,  Chicago.     Sig.  Corps. 

MIDDLETON,  A.  B.,  Pontiac.     M.  C.,  9Oth  Div. 

MILES,  GRANT  M.,  Pontiac.     339th  Inf. 

MILLER,  JNO.  S.,  JR. ,  Winnetka.     33d  F.  A. 

MILLER,  THOS.,  Chicago.     49th  Inf. 

MOCK,  HARRY  E.,  Chicago.     Med.  Corps. 

MUNDT,  WM.  C.,  Fairbury.     Radio  School. 

O'CONNELL,  R.  M.,  Bloomington.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

OPPENHEIMER,  J.,  Chicago.     333d  F.  A. 

ORR,  PONCE  B.,  Joliet.     ist  Inf. 

PACKWOOD,  LAWRENCE,  Chicago.     52ist  M.  T.  C. 

PADDOCK,  GEO.  A.,  Evanston.     342d  Inf. 

PARKER,  HOWARD  K.,  Taylorville.     io6th  F.  A. 

PESAVENTO,  A.  J.,  Joliet.     R.  S.  and  C.  O.  T.  S. 

PIETRZAK,  MICHAEL,  Oglesby.     A.  S.  A.  P.  9th  Dt. 

POWELL,  WM.  J.,  Chicago.     365th  Inf. 

REED,  F.  N.,  Evanston.     loth  F.  A. 

REEDER,  RUSSEL,  Canton,     ist  Co.  C.  A.  C. 

RHODES,  BEN.  S.,  Bloomington.     345th  Inf. 

ROMINGER,  W.  E.,  Shelbyville.     I4th  M.  G. 

SAYRE,  C.  B.,  Canton.     326th  F.  A. 

SEAMAN,  GEO.  G., Taylorville.     i;th  F.  A. 

SEARCY,  EARL  B.,  Springfield.     3iith  Inf. 

SEDWEAK,  C.  E.,  Chicago.     Q.  M.  C. 


250     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

SEXTON,  GROVER  P.,  Chicago.     io8th  Mil.  Pol.  Traim. 
SIMONS,  J.  E.,  Glen  Ellyn.     U.  S.  M.  C. 
SIMPSON,  SIDNEY  E.,  Carroll  ton.     i64th  Inf. 
SKUBIC,  EDW.  P.,  Chicago.     C.  O.  T.  S. 
SPENCER,  R.  V.,  Chicago.     i6oth  D.  B. 
SPRAGUE,  A.  A.,  Lake  Forest.     34ist  Inf. 
STELLO,  JNO.  H.,  McLeansboro.     H5th  M.  G.  Bn. 
TAPP,  H.  P.,  Quincy.     U.  S.  N.  R.  P. 
WALSH,  MARTIN,  Chicago,     ist  Repl.  Reg. 
WEBBER,  R.  W.,  Urbana.     2ioth  Aero  Sq. 
WERCKMAN,  JNO.  C. ,  Minonk.     6th  Repl.  Reg. 
WERNER,  R.  L.,  Peoria.     U.  S.  N.  R.  P. 
WHAM,  CHAS.,  Centralia.     P.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 
YOUNG,  R.,  Joliet.     4ist  Inf. 
ZERWEKH,  PAUL  W.,  Alton.     Aviation. 

INDIANA 

ASCH,  A.  L.,  Indianapolis.     Q.  M.  C. 
BREWER,  SCOTT  R.,  Indianapolis.    Air  Serv. 
BUSKIRK,  N.  J.,  Bloomington.     1 1  ith  Inf. 
CARTER,  SOLON  J.,  Indianapolis,     isoth  P.  A. 
CLEE,  ROBT.  E.,  Kokimo.     69th  P.  A. 
DAVIS,  PAUL  Y.,  Bloomfield.     335th  Inf. 
DUDDLESTON,  A.  C.,  Terre  Haute.     I5ist  Inf. 
HOGAN,  H.  G.,  Pt.  Wayne.     M.  T.  C. 
JOHNSON,  P.  B.,  Indianapolis.  Adv.  Gen. 
LEVI,  MORRIS  R.,  Evansville.     42d  and  32d  Diy. 
LONN,  A.  E.,  Laporte.     i67th  Brg. 
MCDONALD,  T.  M.,  Princeton.     P.  A.  Repl.  Tr. 
MOORHEAD,  R.  L.,  Indianapolis.     I39th  P.  A. 
NEWGENT,  L.  R.,  Indianapolis.     U.  S.  N. 
PUTT,  GEO.,  Indianapolis.     Motor  Trans.  Corp. 
REYNOLDS,  JNO.  B.,  Indianapolis.     Air  Serv. 
ROYER,  S.  D.,  Terre  Haute.     349th  Inf. 
ROYZE,  JNO.  A.,  Indianapolis.     M.  T.  C. 
STRODEL,  C.  P.,  Huntington.     Inf. 
THOMAS,  MARK  H.,  Huntington.     Q.  M.  C. 
TIMKO,  Jos.  J.,  Brazil. 
TODD,  JOE  W.,  Hammond.     Air  Serv. 
UMPLEBY,  JAY  A.,  Gary.     i39th  P.  A. 
WALTZ,  RALPH  H.,  Noblesville.     P.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 


Roster  251 


WATTS,  ALBERT  H.,  E.  Chicago.     i39th  F.  A. 
WILSON,  A.  B.,  Indianapolis.     8/th  Div. 
WOLFE,  C.  P.,  Indianapolis.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
ZIISEL,  FRANK  F.,  Elkhart.     I59th  D.  Br. 

IOWA 

BERGER,  P.  F.,  Carroll.     i63d  Disch.  Off. 
BROOKHART,  S.  W.,  Washington.     Inf. 
BROOKHART,  T.  L.,  Washington.     M.  T.  C. 
COLE,  J.  F.,  Oelwein.     i6ist  Depot  Brig. 
COOK,  DON  C.,  Cedar  Rapids.     U.  S.  M.  C. 
CIRCE,  WM.  L.,  Bloomfield.     ist  Eng. 
CRONIN,  EDW.  P.,  Victor.    U.  S.  N. 
DAY,  J.  R.,  Council  Bluffs,     igth  Div. 
DEWOLF,  M.  E.,  Spencer.     5th  Inf. 
DORAN,  LUCIEN  S.,  Beaver.     339th  F.  A. 
FINCH,  BUDD  R.,  West  Union.     I26th  F.  A. 
HAHN,  F.  K.,  Cedar  Rapids.     I26th  F.  A. 
HAM,  Jos.  F.,  Dubuque.     i68th  Inf. 
HARKER,  FRANK  C.,  Ottumwa.     i68th  Inf. 
HART,  W.  R.,  Iowa  City.     3O5th  B.  Tank  Corp. 
HUDSON,  FRED  M.,  Pocahontas.     79th  A.  A.  Bn. 
HUNGERFORD,  JNO.,  JR.,  Carroll.     Air  Serv. 
KELLY,  J.  H.,  Sioux  City.     99th  Inf. 
KINS,  WILL  L.,  Hubbard.     i59th  Dept.  Br. 
LEMLEY,  H.  D.,  Melrose.    iO9th  Eng. 
MACVICAR,  JNO.,  Des  Moines.     Q.  M.  C. 
MALCOMB,  EARL,  Laurens.     I2th  Inf. 
METZGER,  T.  M.,  Council  Bluffs.     i68th  Inf. 
NEUSTRAND,  OSCAR,  Red  Oak.    U.  S.  N.  R.  F, 
NEWELL,  FLOYD,  Ottumwa.     M.  C. 
PATTEE,  L.  C.,  Pocahontas.     Sig.  Corp. 
PEASE,  LIBERTY,  Farragut.     i68th  Inf. 
PLAISTER,  R.  M.,  Dubuque.     i63d  Inf. 
POLK,  HARRY  H.,  Des  Moines.     iy6th  Inf. 
POND,  ALANSON  M.,  Dubuque.     Med.  Corps. 
PUSEY,  McGEE,  Council  Bluffs,     nth  Bal.  Co. 
SCHULTZ,  E.  R.,  Sioux  City.     Nav.  Res.  Fly.  Corps. 
SHAW,  ROBT.  J.,  Kayesville.     4Oth  Inf. 
SMITH,  R.  A.,  Council  Bluffs.     i63d  D.  B. 
SOPER,  B.  M.,  Nevada.     Q.  M.  C. 
STROTZ,  ROY  R.,  Des  Moines.     i6th  Inf. 


252     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

THOMAS,  LEB  A.,  Mondamin.     3d  Con.  Bn. 

WELCH,  C.  J.,  Denison.     4th  Repl.  Reg.  i6th  Co.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

KANSAS 

BARCLAY,  JAS.  P.,  Kansas  City,     noth  Eng. 

BLY,  WM.  D.,  Leavenworth.     365th  Inf. 

BRANAMAN,  H.  A.,  Ottawa.     i37th  Inf. 

BRICKELL,  J.  B.,  Emporia.     Med.  Corps. 

BURNETT,  R.  H.,  Dodge  City.     Zone  Sup.  Of.  N.  Y.  C. 

CLAUSEN,  E.  W.,  Atchison.     U.  S.  N.  A.  S. 

CUBBISON,  P.  K.,  Kansas  City.     354th  Inf. 

EATON,  L.  R.,  Neodesha.     8th  Eng. 

ELIAS,  C.  R.,  La  Crosse.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

FARRAR,  Foss,  Arkansas  City.     I.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

FOULSTON,  S.  L.,  Wichita,     gist  Div. 

GRIEVES,  LOREN  C.,  Ft.  Leavenworth.     G.  S.  Reg.  A. 

HANTLA,  JNO.  P.,  Spearville.     I37th  Inf. 

HASTY,  LEWIS  A.,  Wichita.     342d  Inf. 

HOLDEN,  HARLEY  E.,  Neodesha.     P.  O.  Dept. 

HOLLOWAY,  W.  W.,  Kansas  City.     P.  M.  G.  O. 

JOHNSON,  PAUL  R.,  Independence.     U.  S.  N. 

KURTZ,  W.  F.,  Columbus.     i58th  D.  B. 

LAMBERT,  I.  E.,   Emporia.     Air  Serv. 

LEE,  THOS.  A.,  Topeka.     26th  Inf. 

LEEKLEY,  R.  M.,  Arkansas  City.     338th  F.  A. 

MADDEN,  JNO.,  SR.,  Wichita.    Air  Serv. 

MARTIN,  CHAS.  L,  Topeka.     yoth  Inf.  Br. 

METCALF,  W.  S.,  Lawrence.     77th  Brig. 

Moss,  SIDNEY  A.,  Wichita.     I25th  F.  A. 

MUSSELMAN,  N.  B.,  Arkansas  City.     R.  M.  A. 

O'REILLY,  H.  C.,  Strong  City.     i64th  Depot  Br. 

ORTMEYER,  H.  A.,  Wichita.     326th  M.  G.  Bn. 

PHAREN,  W.  A.,  Wichita.     36oth  Inf. 

SNYDER,  HARRY  E.,  Council  Grove.     Med.  Det. 

SPARKS,  KEITH  L.,  Greensburg.     Med.  Dep. 

STANFORD,  F.  C.,  Independence.     A.  S.  S.  C. 

WALKER,  H.  Jos.,  La  Crosse.     41 8th  Eng. 

WEED,  M.  S.,  Lawrence.     I37th  Inf. 

WILLIAMS,  JNO.  W.,  Ottawa.     Air  Serv. 

WOODS,  JAS.  A.,  Arkansas  City.     loist  Fid.  Sig.  B. 

WOODSIDE,  L.  N.,  Council  Grove.     I3th  Cav. 


Roster  255 

KENTUCKY 

BEARD,  B.  F.,  Hardensburg.     i38th  F.  A. 

BELL,  ULRIC  J.,  Louisville.    Inf. 

BERNHEIM,  PR.  D.,  Louisville.     I59th  D.  B. 

BRONAUGH,  ROBT.  L.,  Nicholasville.     i64th  Inf. 

EVANS,  LYNN  B.,  Lebanon.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

EWALL,  GEO.  R.,  Louisville.     I59th  D.  B. 

FISCHER,  A.  T.,  Louisville.     A.  S.  R.  C. 

FRASER,  V.  C.,  Wickliffe.     6th  Inf. 

GORDON,  M.  K.,  Madisonville.     I.  G.  D. 

HALL,  HERMAN  H.,  Viper.     327th  F.  A. 

HILL,  J.  MURRAY,  Bowling  Green.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

JUETT,  J.  G.,  Wickliffe.     i8th  Inf. 

MARRINER,  E.  H.,  Dayton,     13  ist  Inf. 

MOORMAN,  H.  D.,  Hardinsburg.     loth  F.  A. 

MUIR,  EDMUND  A.,  Nicholsville.     226.  Ret.  Co.  G.  S. 

RINGGOLD,  J.  H.,  JR.,  Russellville.     Air  Sq.  260. 

SACHS,  D.  A.,  JR.,  Louisville.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

SLACK,  R.  H.,  Owensboro.     ist  O.  T.  S. 

SOSNIN,  M.  L.,  Louisville.     Base  Hosp.  Camp  Crane,  Luxem- 

berg,  Fr. 

SOYARS,  WM.  O.,  Hopkinsville.     U.  S.  M.  C. 
STEWART,  PHIL.  H.,  Paducah.     M.  R.  C. 
WHEELER,  JAS.  G.,  Paducah.     159th  D.  B. 
YOUNG,  JNO.  S.,  Glasgow.     Med.  Corps. 


LOUISIANA 

BEARD,  L.  P.,  New  Orleans.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
BLANCAND,  Gus,  New  Orleans.     Co.  10. 
COON,  WM.  A.,  New  Orleans.     73d  F.  A. 
DAVIS,  EDW.,  New  Orleans,     ist  Reg.  F.  A.  R.  D. 
GINELLA,  Louis,  New  Orleans.     M.  C. 
MICHEL,  F.  RALPH,  New  Orleans.     46th  F.  A. 
MOORE,  LEVERING,  New  Orleans.     Q.  M.  C. 
OWEN,  ALLISON,  New  Orleans.     14 ist  F.  A. 
PRATT,  GEO.  H.  H.,  New  Orleans.     Air  Serv. 
STEM,  C.  H.,  New  Orleans.     2d  Eng. 
WEINMANN,  R.  J.,  New  Orleans.     15 ist  F.  A. 


254     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

MAINE 

ADAMS,  W.  P.,  Portland.     54th  AT.  C.  A.  C. 

BOYLE,  JAS.  L.,  Augusta.     loist  San.  Tr. 

GREENE,  ROGER  A.,  Lewiston.     loist  Trench  Mort.  Bn. 

GREENLAW,  ALBERT,  Eastport.     Hdq.  26th  Div. 

HAINES,  ROY  C.,  Ellsworth.     334th  Tank  Corps. 

HUMER,  FRANK  M.,  Houlton.     io3d  U.  S.  Inf. 

MILLIKEN,  CARL  E.,  Augusta. 

NORTON,  W.  P.,  Portland.     726.  Art.  C.  A.  C. 

PRESSON,  GEO.  McG.,  Augusta.    Adj.  Gen. 

ROBINSON,  A.  L.,  Portland.     7th  A.  A.  Bn. 

MARYLAND 

FRENCH,  FINDLAY  H.,  Baltimore.     S.  O.  Camp,  Greenleaf,  Ga. 

GOOD,  STUART  S.,  Baltimore,     iioth  F.  A. 

HUSTER,  WM.  A.,  Cumberland.     H3th  Inf. 

JOHNSON,  WILLARD  J.,  Baltimore.     35ist  F.  A. 

KNAPP,  RALEIGH  T.,  Baltimore,     iioth  F.  A. 

RANDALL,  A.,  Baltimore,     iioth  F.  A. 

SCAFFE,  HAROLD,  Baltimore.     I4th  F.  A. 

SOLOMON,  ADOLPH  C.,  Baltimore.     U.  S.  M.  C. 

STEWART,  DAVIS  G.,  Baltimore.     35*st  F.  A. 

TIEMAN,  GEORGE  H.,  Baltimore.    Air  Service. 

WILMER,  WILLIAM  B.,  Baltimore.     Tank  Corps. 

YOUNG,  FRANK  A.,  Cumberland,     iisth  Inf. 

YOUNG,  HARVEY  W.,  Baltimore.     35ist  F.  A. 

MASSACHUSETTS 

BACON,  G.  G.,  Jamaica  Plains.     3i6th  F.  A. 

BALDWIN,  H.  L.,  Maiden. 

BURT,  C.  E.,  New  Bedford.     i2ist  F.  A. 

CLEAR Y,  JAS.  P.,  Boston.     Personnel  Off.  Camp  Upton. 

CUTLER,  GEO.  C.,  JR.,  Boston.     U.  S.  N. 

DALTON,  EDWARD  F.,  Boston.     A.  G.  D. 

DOLAN,  W.  H.,  Fitchburg.     26th  Div. 

FOY,  F.  H.,  Quincy.     82d  Div.  Inf. 

FROTHINGHAM,  L.  A.,  N.  Easton.    Adj.  Gen. 

GERMAIN,  CHAS.  F.,  Wollaston.     234th  Eng. 

GILBODY,  GEO.  F.,  Boston. 


Roster  255 

GREEN,  DONALD  R.,  Holyoke.     28th  F.  A. 

HERBERT,  J.  F.  J.,  Worcester.     io2d  F.  A. 

HOWARD,  W.  J.,  Whitman,     nath  Eng. 

JACKSON,  L.  F.,  Athol.     74th  Inf. 

MADDEN,  MARCUS  E.,  64  N.  Beacon  St.,  71  Art.  C.  A.  C 

MANIFF,  HARRY,  Revere.     U.  S.  N. 

MARLEY,  THOS.  J.,  E.  Boston.     iO4th  Inf. 

McGRATH,  JAS.  F.,  Roslindale.     Hdq.  26th  Div. 

MclNNis,  VICTOR  A.,  Roxbury.     3oist  Inf. 

MOYNIHAN,  NEIL  P.,  Haverhill.     C.  O.  T.  S.,  Camp  Lee,  Va. 

NOLAN,  DAVID  J.,  Worcester.     52d  Inf. 

O'ROURKE,  JNO.  J.,  Lowell,     roist  Sup.  Tr. 

PAGE,  KENNETH  B.,  Longmeadow.     io4th  Inf. 

PEABODY,  J.  G.  R.,  Boston.     Asst.  to  Dept.  Insp.,  N.  E.  Dept. 

I.  G.  5th  Div.  A.  E.  F. 
PRYOR,  J.  H.,  West  Newton.     372d  Inf. 
ROSENFELD,  JAY  C.,  Pittsfield.     359th  Inf. 
SAFFORD,  RALPH  K.,  Springfield.     io4th  Inf. 
SCOTT,  H.  J.,  Roxbury.     26th  Div. 
SHINNICK,  WM.  T.,  Brockton.     55th  Reg.  C.  A.  C. 
SPILLANE,  LEO  A.,  Chelsea.    Hdq.  N.  E.  Dept. 
STEWART,  H.  J.,  Camp  Devens.     36th  Mis.  Inf. 
STRANDQUIST,  H.  W.,  Newton.     io2d  M.  G.  Bn. 
THOMAS,  H.  C.,  Allston.     loist  Eng. 
WHEELOCK,  H.  H.,  Fitchburg.     loist  Sup.  Tr. 
WILLIAMS,  HARRY  R.,  Boston.     loist  Am.  Tr. 

MICHIGAN 

ALGER,  FREDERICK  M.y  Detroit.     3ioth  Amun.  Tr. 

ALLEN,  CARLOS  R.,  Detroit.     I25th  Inf. 

BALDWIN,  PAUL  R.,  Manistique.     Air  Service. 

BELLOWS,  BENJ.  B.,  Highland  Park.     Ordnance. 

BERSEY,  JOHN  S.,  Lansing.     Adjt.  Gen.,  Michigan. 

BOWDEN,  ISAAC,  Port  Huron.     Base  Hosp.  No.  73. 

BRINK,  HOWARD  C.,  Grand  Rapids.     i26th  Inf. 

BURGESS,  FRANK,  Grand  Rapids.     i26th  Inf. 

CHRISTIE,  J.  T.  C.,  U.  S.  A.  Gen.  Hop.,  No.  36, Detroit.    Q.M.C. 

CONWAY,  BERTRAM,  33  Cardonia  St.,  Detroit.     367th  Inf. 

DOYLE,  A.  G.,  Grand  Rapids.     i26th  Inf. 

ENGLISH,  RAND  F.,  Detroit.     i25th  Inf. 

EVANS,  LYNN  B.,  University  Club,  Detroit.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 


256     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

FEHRENBOCHER,  CHRISS,  271  Harrison  St.,  Gary,  Ind.    loth  Inf. 

GILDERSLEEVE,  HOWARD,  Grand  Rapids.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

GILLEO,  AVERY  C.,  Grand  Rapids.     I26th  Inf. 

GUELFF,  JOHN  J.,  Marquette.     328th  F.  A. 

HALL,  WILLIAM  D.,  Kalamazoo.     I26th  Inf. 

HANSEN,  MYRON  J.,  Laurium.     S.  A.  T.  C. 

HARRIS,  H.  H.,  Detroit.     A.  S.  S.  C.  Aviation  Training. 

HENRY,  D.  D.,  Grand  Rapids.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

HULLFISH,  HENRY  G.,  Washington,  D.  C.     Medical  Dept. 

KELLEY,  CHARLES  D.,  West  Detroit.     32d  Div.  . 

KESL,  G.  M.,  Port  Huron.     M.  D. 

KILMER,  EDWARD  H.,  Grand  Rapids.     loth  Inf. 

KING,  WILLIAM,  Detroit.     12 5th  Inf. 

LARSON,  WERNER  R.,  Iron  wood.     Sanitary  Squad  No.  58. 

LAWSON,  OTTO  EMIL  C.  Y.,  Detroit.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

LOCKHART,  ARTHUR,  Grand  Rapids.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

MAINES,  GEORGE  H.,  Battle  Creek.     338th  Inf. 

McKEE,  MARK  T.,  Mt.  Clemens.     Chemical  Warfare. 

McMAHAN,  F.  V.,  322  E.  Grand  Blvd.,  Detroit.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

MOERISCH,  E.  L.,  Escanaba.     U.  S.  N. 

NICKEL,  P.  W.,  Grand  Rapids.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

NORTON,  ALBERT  H.,  Detroit.     I25th  Inf. 

O'BRIEN,  THOMAS,  Grand  Rapids.     U.  S.  N. 

O'DELL,  H.  A.,  Detroit.     Hdg.  Chief  Engr. 

QUASIGROCH,  LEE  J.,  Highland  Park,  111.,  Camp  Custer. 

SMITH,  GEORGE  L.,  Detroit.     4th  Tex.  Inf. 

TABOR,  LYLE  D.,  Detroit.    U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

TARPESTRA,  GEORGE,  Grand  Rapids.     I54th  Aero  Squad. 

TAYLOR,  W.  J.,  Port  Huron.     Hdq.  Det.  I4th  Div. 

TOBIN,  FRANK  J.,  Jackson.     I26th  Inf. 

VELDMAR,  EDWIN,  Grand  Rapids.     26th  Inf. 

WEIR,  ORVILLE  H.,  Detroit.     I25th  Inf. 

WILKIN,  H.  H.,  Detroit.     U.  S.  N. 

YOUNG,  JAY  F.,  706  Easterly  Ave.,  I25th  Inf. 

MINNESOTA 

AHERN,  JNO.  J.,  St.  Paul.     88th  Inf. 
ANDERSON,  S.  E.,  Ruthton.     35ist  Inf. 
BALDWIN,  C.  H.,  Redwood  Falls.     8;th  Inf. 
CALDWELL,  JNO.  C.,  Albert  Lea.     I27th  F.  A. 
CHAPIN,  GEO.  S.,  St.  Paul.     i6;th  Inf. 


Roster  257 

CLARK,  GORDON  M.,  Duluth.     12 5th  F.  A. 

CLIPPER,  GEO.  A.,  St.  Paul.    Q.  M.  C. 

COOK,  PAUL  B.,  Lowrny  Big.,  St.  Paul.     Med.  Corp. 

EATON,  M.  E.,  Minneapolis.     3OQth  Fid.  Sig.  Bn. 

FOWLER,  F.  J.,  St.  Paul.     Camp  McArthur. 

FULLER,  HARRISON,  St.  Paul.     i63d  F.  A. 

HALL,  LEVI  M.,  Minneapolis.     I24th  F.  A. 

HENDERSON,  R.  L.,  Minneapolis.     C.  A. 

KING,  S.  W.,  Austin.     Motor  Mechanic. 

LEWIS,  H.  B.,  Minneapolis.     Dun  woody  Tr.  Det. 

LOWTHER,  GEO.,  Minneapolis.     Sig.  Corp. 

MACMICHAEL,  P.  R.,  119  N.  4th  St.,  Minneapolis.     I.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

MAGNUSSON,  C.  W.,  Hibbing.     85th  F.  A. 

MCCARTHY,  E.  D.,  St.  Paul.     31 3th  Eng. 

NELSON,  A.  M.,  Fairmont.     68th  Inf.  Br. 

NELSON,  ROY,  Minneapolis.     M.  G.  S. 

NOLAN,  M.  C.,  Grand  Meadow.     Q.  M.  C. 

PAGE,  RALPH  W.,  Minneapolis.     3O3d  Cav. 

PARKS,  JNO.  J.,  St.  Paul.     101  Aero  Squad. 

PARTRIDGE,  C.  A.,  Owatonna.     332d  M.  G.  Bn. 

ROBERTS,  LOREN  B.,  Little  Falls.     187  Aero  Sq.,  A.  E.  F. 

ROGERS,  M.  J.,  St.  Paul.     74th  Eng. 

SCHAUB,  H.  W.,  St.  Paul.     65th  Pioneer  Inf. 

SMITH,  S.  S.,  Worthington.     i64th  D.  Brig. 

STROMGREN,  E.,  Center  City.     Motor  Amb.  Sup.  Dep.  Louisville. 

STURTZ,  WM.  P.,  Albert  Lea.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

TOMELTY,  JAS.  C.,  Little  Falls.     337th  F.  A. 

USTRUCK,  W.  J.,  Montevideo.     346th  Inf. 

VANCMA,  GEO.,  Lakefield.     i5ist  Aero  Sq. 

VARNER,  C.  L.,  St.  Cloud.     Naval  Aviation. 

VEIT,  CON.,  3733  Pleasant  Ave.,  Minneapolis.     7oth  Inf. 

WARNER,  LEE  F.,  St.  Paul.     Chem.  Warfare. 

WILLIAMS,  W.  A.,  621  Byron  St.,  Mankato.     2d  Eng. 


MISSISSIPPI 

ADAMS,  WM.  T.,  JR.,  Corinth,     i  isth  F.  A. 
ALEXANDER,  JNO.  M.,  Jackson.     San.  Corp. 
BURNETT,  ROBT.,  Vicksburg.     334th  M.  G.  Bn. 
CHAMBERS,  PAUL,  Jackson.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
CLARK,  ARTHUR  B.,  Indianola.     79th  Div. 

17 


258     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

DALBEY,  CHAS.  R.,  Jackson,     n^th  Inf. 

DUNN,  ARTHUR  JNO.,  Vicksburg.     1626.  Inf. 

FITZHUGH,  ALEX.,   1403  Baum  St.,  Vicksburg.     Comp  Q.  M., 

Camp  Hancock,  Ga. 

FLEMING,  JAS.  S.,  JR.,  Natchez.     520!  Ammun.  Tr. 
HOSKINS,  GEO.  C.,  Brookhaven.     1626.  Inf. 
SULLENS,  FREDERICK,  Jackson.     Mil.  Intell.  Div.  Gen.  Staff. 
WHITING,  JNO.  S.,  JR.,  Farrell.    24th  Co.  C.  O.  T.  S. 


MISSOURI 

ALBERT,  WILFRED  G.,  St.  Louis.     57th  F.  A. 

ALEXANDER,  F.,  St.  Louis.    49th  Inf. 

ALLEN,  C.  P.,  Trenton.     Field  Ord. 

BARCO,  A.  U.,  St.  Louis.    U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

BENNETT,  J.  M.,  Neosho.     S.  M.  A. 

BERNARD,  J.  A.,  St.  Louis.     45th  U.  S.  Inf.  Medical  Corps. 

BRADBURY,  H.  C.,  Jefferson  City.    U.  S.  M.  C. 

BRUGGERE,  W.  H.,  St.  Louis.     342d  F.  A. 

CAMBELL,  C.  W.,  Sedalia.     3i4th  Eng. 

CARTER,  A.,  Meadville.     i8th  Inf. 

CLARK,  BENNETT,  Bowling  Green.     88th  Div. 

CLARKE,  HARVEY  C.,  Jefferson  City.    35th  Div. 

CRONKITE,  D.  W.,  St.  Joseph.     Naval  Aviation. 

DALLMEYER,  PHIL.  A.,  Jefferson  City.     I.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

DALY,  RICHARD  L.,  St.  Louis.     i2th  F.  A. 

DICKSON,  J.  T.,  Warrensburg.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

DIMMITT,  C.  P.,  St.  Louis.     Hosp.  Guard. 

EGGER,  E.  R.,  St.  Louis.     6th  Reg.  F.  A.  R.  D. 

FIELD,  ANDREW,  Macon.     i6oth  D.  B. 

FOSTER,  DICK  B.,  Kansas  City.     loth  Div. 

FULLERTON,  ROB.,  Louis,  111.     5th  Mo.  Inf. 

GARRETT,  RUBY  D.,  Kansas  City.     Signal  Corps. 

GOOD,  H.  G.,  Carthage.     Ii6th  Engrs. 

GRAY,  L.  H.,  Carthage.     6th  M.  G.  B.  Marines. 

GREEN,  FREDK.  WM.,  St.  Louis.     i2th  Engrs. 

GRIMSLEY,  CLYDE  L,  Salina.     i6th  Inf. 

HAGNER,  A.  R.,  Hagerstown.     Casual  Air  Serv. 

HAW,  U.  P.,  Benton.     goth  Inf. 

HOLCOMB,  H.  W.,  Moberly.     Q.  M.  C.  S.  C. 

HUBBARD,  DOUGLAS,  G.,  Versailles.    346th  Inf. 


Roster  259 

HUSTON,  G.  C.,  Troy.     U.  S.  N. 

HYDE,  L.  M.,  Princeton.     338th  Inf. 

JOHNSTON,  GALE,  Mexico.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

JOHNSTON,  W.  O.,  St.  Louis.     Bat.  No.  60  Arty.  C.  A.  C. 

KEALY,  PHILIP  J.,  Kansas  City.     13 8th  Inf. 

KLEMM,  K.  D.,  Kansas  City.     io6th  F.  A. 

KRECHEL,  HENRY,  Floissant.     i28th  F.  A. 

LAFAYETTE,  D.  LYTLE,  St.  Louis.     3326!  Inf. 

LAYTON,  CHAS.  O.,  St.  Louis.     Naval  Veteran  Assn. 

LEACH,  MERTON  H.,  Jefferson  Barracks.     Q.  M.  C. 

LONERGAN,  WM.  J.,  St.  Louis.     I38th  Inf. 

LOZIER,  LUE  C.,  Carrollton.     i64th  D.  B. 

McKiNLEY,  C.  A.,  Clinton.     60 th  Pioneer  Inf. 

MONOVILL,  HAROLD  P.,  St.  Louis.    Naval  Overseas  Trans.  Serv. 

MONTGOMERY,  P.  S.,  St.  Louis.     31 2th  Inf. 

NEE,  DAN  M.,  Springfield.     O.  T.  S. 

NEVILLE,  J.  H.,  Springfield.     4ist  Arty. 

RAUPP,  WILLIAM,  Pierce  City.     2d  Pioneer  Inf. 

RAZOOSKY,  JULIUS,  St.  Louis.     Aero.  Phot. 

ROBINETTE,  P.  J.,  Hartville.     U.  S.  M.  C. 

ROGERS,  GEORGE,  Missouri  Ath.  Assn.     A.  S.  i33d  Det. 

ROSEMANN,  HENRY,  St.  Louis.     Tank  Corps. 

ROYAL,  THOMAS  V.,  St.  Louis. 

SCHIELDS,  GEO.,  St.  Louis.     Adj.  Gen.  Dept. 

TUCKER,  PAUL,  Lamar.     n 2th  Inf. 

WANCHTES,  GEO.,  St.  Louis. 

WATKINS,  CHARLES,  St.  Louis.     Fort  Sheridan. 

WHELESS,  JOSEPH,  St.  Louis.    Judge  Adv. 

WHITE,  J.  M.,  St.  Louis.     Eng. 

WOODS,  JOE,  St.  Louis.     354th  Inf. 

YOUNT,  M.  P.,  Ironton.     3d  O.  T.  L. 


MONTANA 

ALMON,  WORTH  C.,  Helena.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
BARNETT,  BEN  W.,  Helena.     i63d  D.  B. 
BARRY,  ARTHUR  N.,  Billings.    A.  S.  Dept. 
BLOMQUIST,  H.  L.,  Great  Falls. 
McCALLUM,  D.  S.,  Helena.     i63d  Inf. 
PEW,  CHAS.  E.,  Helena.    44th  Inf. 
SHERIDAN,  CHAS.  L.,  Bozeman.    49th  Inf. 


26o     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

NEBRASKA 

GOAD,  RALPH  G.,  Omaha.     A.  S.  M.  A. 

FISCHER,  FRANK  F.,  Scotts  Bluff.     i64th  D.  B. 

FITZSIMMONS,  L.  L.,  Fremont.     M.  O.  T.  C. 

GILLIGAN,  GEO  W.,  Lincoln.     4ist  Inf. 

GOODRICH,  E.  S.,  Fairbury.     3O5th  Tank  Corps. 

HOLDEMAN,  GEO.  H.,  York.     I25th  F.  A. 

HOWARD,  BERT,  Tecumseh.     U.  S.  N. 

KEARNEY,  ORLANDO  H.,  Morrill.     I3th  Inf. 

McDERMOTT,  ED.  P.,  Kearney.     C.  M.  G.  O.  T.  S. 

McGuiRE,  L.  J.,  Omaha.     3d  Inf. 

MADDEN,  RAY  J.,  Omaha,  U.  S.  N. 

MAHER,  JOHN  G.,  Lincoln.     Chief  Disb.  Officer,  Paris. 

MERSINGER,  LEON,  Plattsmouth.     2226.  Field  Signal  Bn. 

RADEMACHER,  R.  A.,  York.     Unassigned. 

RITCHIE,  WM.,  JR.,  Omaha.     69th  Inf. 

ROBERTSON,  HUGH  C.,  Omaha.    356  San.  Det. 

STIRCH,  J.  A.,  Lincoln.     35Oth  Inf. 

STRYKER,  HIRD,  Omaha.     338th  F.  A. 

STUART,  A.  L.,  Fremont.     428  Eng.,  109  Eng. 

TUKEY,  ALLAN  A.,  Omaha.     26th  Inf. 

VANNESS,  CLARENCE,  Stanton.    A.  S.  S.  C. 

WEBB,  ROBERT  J.,  Omaha.     i64th  Depot  Brig. 

NEVADA 

MALSBARY,  E.  L.,  Reno.     21 8th  Eng. 

SALTER,  J.  D.,  Winnemucca.     2d  Co.,  3d  Bn.  I.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 

ABBOTT,  F.  J.,  Manchester.     io3d  F.  A. 

DESCHEMS,  HOMAR  J.,  East  Jaffey.    Motor  Supply  Train. 

FISKE,  GEORGE  V.,  Manchester.     75th  Div.  San.  Tr. 

HEUREUX,  L'HERVE,  Manchester.     iO3d  Inf. 

HOGAN,  WALTER  J.,  Manchester.     iO3d  Inf. 

KNOX,  FRANK,  Manchester.     3O3d  Amm.  Tr. 

MAHER,  CHARLES  F.,  612  Main  St.,  Laconia. 

MAHONEY,  MATTHEW  J.,  Manchester.     iO3d  Inf. 

MURPHY,  WM.,  49  Alfred  St.,  iO3d  Inf. 

SANTOR,  JOHN,  Manchester.     iO4th  F.  H. 


Roster  261 

SULLIVAN,  WM.  E.,  Nashua.     io2d  Inf. 
TRUFANT,  ARTHUR,  Hudson.     io3d  Inf. 

NEW  JERSEY 

BESSON,  HARLAN,  Hoboken.     5th  A.  C. 

BRADY,  CHARLES  S.,  Weehawken.     322d  Sanitary  Train. 

BROMLEY,  HERBERT  L.,  127  Clinton  Ave.,  Clifton.     Camp  Hdq., 

Camp  Dix. 

CANGEMI,  ANGELO,  Newark.    U.  S.  Nitrate  Plant,  No.  i. 
DEBEVOISE,  PAUL,  Elizabeth.     31 2th  Inf. 
EGGERS,  ALAN  L.,  Summit.     loyth  Inf. 
EHRHARDT,  PHILIP,  Jersey  City,     inth  M.  G.  Bn. 
McGRATH,  EDWARD  A.,  Elizabeth.     U.  S.  N. 
MULLIK,  D.  B.,  Leonia.     Eng.  M.  P. 
PANCOAST,  JOHN  M.,  Hancock's  Bridge.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
RITTER,  RALPH  F.,  Rah  way.     Staff,  Ft.  Hancock. 
SCHENCK,  R.  P.,  Jersey  City.     Q.  M.  C. 
STRATTON,  GERVAS,  Vineland.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
TISCHBECK,  JOHN  D.,  Newark.     H2th  H.  F.  A. 
TOBIN,  ED.  A.,  27  Broadway,  Camden.     U.  S.  N. 
WEED,  NEWELL  P.,  65  Union,  Montclair.   344th  Ban.  Tank  Corps. 
WESCOAT,  ABSALOM  S.,  Atlantic  City.     M.  C. 

NEW  MEXICO 

BACA,  HERMAN  G.,  Belen.     U.  S.  N. 

BACA,  JESUS  M.,  Santa  Fe.     usth  Pv.  Hq. 

BLEVINS,  DONALD  L.,  Las  Vegas.     82d  F.  A. 

CUTTING,  B.  M.,  Santa  Fe.     Mil.  Attache*,  London. 

DILLARD,  H.  WYATT,  Roswell.    358th  Inf. 

BOLD  WELL,  C.  S.,  Albuquerque/   Inf.  (?) 

FLAMM,  ROY  H.,  Alamogorda.     i8th  Eng.  R.  T.  C.  French  Army. 

HUMPHREYS,  FRED.  B.,  Dayton.     U.  S.  N. 

NEW  YORK 

ALLEN,  FREEMAN  C.,  Rochester.     Q.  M.  C. 
BALDWIN,  FREDERIC  W.,  Brooklyn.     3o8th  Inf. 
BALL,  GROSVENOR  LOWREY,  Lawrence.     3o6th  Inf. 
BARNHILL,  GEORGE  B.,  New  York.     82oth  Aero  Squad. 
BARRETT,  WALTER  N.,  Saratoga  Springs.     U.  S.  M.  C. 
BARUCK,  S.  L.,  New  York.     Q.  M.  C. 


262     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

BEERS,  W.  H.,  New  York.     6oist  Eng. 

BERRY,  CHARLES  W.,  Brooklyn.     io6th  Inf. 

BLACK,  JOHN,  Brooklyn.    Stars  and  Stripes  Gen.  Staff. 

BODAMER,  HAROLD  L.,  Buffalo.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

BOECKEL,  FRED.  W.,  Buffalo.     io6th  F.  A. 

BOOTH,  ROBERT  C.,  Plattsburg.     3030!  Inf. 

BOYCE,  A.  L.,  New  York.     Q.  M.  C. 

BRADLEY,  GOODYEAR,  Buffalo.     io6th  Regt. 

BUNN,  EARLE  D.,  Newburgh.     Train,  and  Unassign.  Duty. 

BURRILL,  Louis  D.,  Syracuse.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

BUTLER,  WILLIAM  E.,  Brooklyn.     Ambulance  Service. 

CHURCH,  ELIHU  C.,  New  York,     i  I7th  Eng. 

COMPTON,  GEO.  B.,  New  York.     I53d  Depot  Bri.  F.  A. 

CON  WAY,  THOMAS  J.,  Ithaca.     U.  S.  Marines. 

COOKE,  JAMES  P.,  New  York.     io6th  Inf. 

COSBY,  ARTHUR  F.,  New  York.    A.  G.  O. 

DAGGETT,  GEO.  F.,  Brooklyn.    Military  Intell.  Div. 

DAVIES,  JULIEN  L.,  New  York.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

DEAN,  CLARK  M.,  New  York.     loyth  Inf. 

DECLUCQ,  FLOYD  L.,  Cortland.     io8th  Inf. 

DECOURSEY,  FALES,  New  York.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

DERBY,  RICHARD,  New  York.     2d  Div. 

DEYO,  HARRISON,  Yonkers.     S.  A.  T.  C.  Columbia  Univ. 

DRAPER,  WM.  H.,  New  York.     Co.  2,  N.  Y.  Reg. 

DUELL,  CHARLES  H.,  New  York.     U.  S.  N. 

ECKERT,  J.  A.,  New  York.     losth  F.  A. 

ENGEL,  NICHOLAS,  New  York.     io7th  Inf. 

FINELITE,  A.  C.,  New  York.     Q.  M.  C. 

FISH,  HAMILTON,  JR.,  New  York.     369th  Inf. 

FLOYD,  CHAS.  H.,  New  York.     iO7th  Inf. 

Fox,  E.  E.,  58  W.  47th  St.,  New  York. 

FRANK,  EUGENE,  New  York.     E.  O.  T.  S. 

GALLAGHER,  F.  T.  C.,  Oswego.     io8th  Inf. 

GOERKE,  JAMES  F.,  Brooklyn.     U.  S.  N. 

HAYES,  WADE  H.,  New  York.     27th  Div. 

HEALY,  Jos.  F.,  New  York.     U.  S.  N. 

HELWIG,  A.  L.,  517  New  York  Eng.  Corp. 

HUDSON,  DONALD,  New  York.     27th  Aero  Squadron. 

HUNT,  CLYDE  R.,  Woodhaven.     7th  Bt.  Hdqrs. 

INGRAM,  LEE,  Gloversville.     iO5th  Inf. 

JAY,  DELANCEY  K.,  Westbury.     3O7th  Inf. 

JENNINGS,  ALLEN  D.,  Brooklyn.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 


Roster  263 

KINCAID,  J.  LESLIE,  Syracuse.     2/th  Div. 
KITCHEL,  LLOYD,  Bronxville.     i2th  F.  A. 
KNOB,  FREDERICK  J.,  New  York.     U.  S.  M.  C. 
KRUMM,  EDWARD  DELOS,  Rome.     loth  Inf. 
LYONS,  WILLIAM  M.,  Brooklyn.     ii4th  Inf. 
McAooo,  WILLIAM  GIBBS,  JR.,  New  York.     U.  S.  N.  Air  Service. 
McALPiN,  MILO  F.,  New  York.     37th  Art. 
MclLVAiNE,  TOMPKINS,  New  York.     Intell.  Service. 
MCKLAINE,  OSCEALA  E.,  New  York.     367th  Inf. 
MARSH,  ROBERT  M.  C.,  New  York.     35ist  F.  A. 
MELA,  HARRY  F.,  New  York.     1526!  Depot  Bdg. 
MILLER,  LAWRENCE,  New  York.     3O5th  F.  A. 
MOSLE,  C.  FRED.,  New  York.     33d  Inf. 
MULLIN,  R.  JEROME,  Brooklyn.     3o8th  Inf. 
MUNSKE,  CHARLES  R.,  Brooklyn.     iO2d  F.  A. 
NICKERSON,  HOFFMAN,  New  York.     Ordnance. 
OKERLIND,  MELIN  A.,  Jamestown.     U.  S.  N.  T.  S. 
OSBORNE,  FAIRFIELD,  New  York.     35ist  F.  A. 
PERRY,  FRANCIS  W.,  Brooklyn.     77th  Div. 
PRESS,  THOMAS  C.,  Bronx.     io5th  F.  A. 
PUTNAM,  G.  P.,  New  York.     F.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 
RACKOFF,  IRWIN  IRA,  New  York.     I52d  Depot  Brigade. 
REID,  D.  LINCOLN,  New  York.     369th  Inf. 
RIDDER,  JOSEPH  E.,  New  York.     M.  T.  C. 
RIFFE,  JAMES,  Elmira.     io8th  Inf. 

ROBINSON,  Fordham  Road  and  Valentine  Ave.,  New  York.    Gen- 
eral Staff. 

ROBINSON,  FRANCIS  H.,  New  York.     Q.  M.  C. 
ROOSEVELT,  THEODORE,  New  York.     2Oth  Inf. 
SCHMIDT,  W.  M.,  Pleasantville.     7th  Inf. 
SELIGMAN,  J.  L.,  New  York.     27th  Div. 
SMITH,  POWERS  C.,  Watertown.     3O7th  F.  A. 
SMITH,  THOMAS  R.,  St.  Louis.    A.  S.  D. 
STONE,  LAUE  K.,  New  York.     34th  Aero  Squadron. 
SWIFT,  PARTON,  Buffalo,     isist  F.  A.     Bri. 
TAYLOR,  H.  IRV.,  New  York.     C.  A.  C. 
TOWNSON,  K.  C.,  Rochester.     F.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 
VAN  BUREN,  J.  N.,  Dunkirk.     Aviation. 
WELLS,  JOHN,  New  York.     iO5th  U.  S,  Inf. 
WHEAT,  GEO.  S.,  New  York.     U.  S.  N. 
WICKERSHAM,  C.  W.,  New  York.     27th  Div. 
WISEMAN,  MARK  H.,  New  York.     7th  Regt. 


264     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

WOOD,  ERIC  F.,  New  York.     83d  Div. 
WRIGHT,  W.  T.,  New  York.     losth  F.  A. 

NORTH  DAKOTA 

BAKER,  JULIUS  R.,  Fargo.     6th  Corps  M.  P.  Co. 

FRASER,  G.  A.,  Bismarck.     Inf.  P.  M.  G.  O. 

GORMAN,  ARTHUR,  Fargo.     26th  Inf. 

HANLEY,  J.  M.,  Mandan.     I48th  M.  G.  Bn. 

MERRY,  LYALL  B.,  W.  Dickinson.     n6th  Supply  Train. 

SEMLING,  H.  V.,  Bismarck.     n6th  Tr.  Hdqrs. 

STERN,  WILLIAM,  Fargo.     Q.  M.  C. 

TREACY,  ROBT.  H.,  Bismarck.     339th  Inf.  i6oth  Depot  Brigade. 

WILLIAMS,  J.  P.,  No.  Fargo.     3d  Eng. 

OHIO 

BABCOCK,  VEARNE  C.,  Elyria.     U.  S.  Naval  Aviation. 

BETTMAN,  GILBERT.  1114  Union  Trust  Bldg.,  Military  Intell.Div. 

BIMM,  HARRY  L.,  Dayton.     Air  Service. 

BLACK,  ROBERT  L.,  Cincinnati.     37th  Div.  Military  Intell. 

BRUML,  MAURICE  W.,  Cleveland.     Air  Serv. 

BUSH,  H.  M.,  Briggsdale.     I34th  F.  A. 

CAMPBELL,  L.  J.,  Youngstown.    3OQth  F.  A. 

COBE,  RALPH  D.,  Findlay.     I45th  Inf. 

CONKLIN,  WM.  H.,  Columbus.     Q.  M.  C. 

FESS,  THOMAS  L.,  Yellow  Springs.     394th  M.  G.  Bri. 

FUNM,  NORBERT  E.,  Sandusky.     I47th  Inf. 

GERLACK,  F.  C.,  Wooster.     I46th  Inf. 

HALL,  JOSEPH  L.,  Cincinnati.     5th  Corps  Artillery. 

HARD,  DUDLEY  J.,  Cleveland.     I35th  F.  A. 

HORRELL,  OLNEY  W.,  Dayton.     I34th  F.  A. 

HUSTON,  C.  H.,  Mansfield.     ii2th  Am.  Train. 

KING,  E.  L.,  Dayton.    Air  Service. 

KLINE,  JOHN  H.,  Dayton.     62d  F.  A. 

KOONS,  JACK  F.,  Cincinnati.     I48th  Inf. 

LEA,  ANDREW  B.,  Cleveland.     H2th  Engrs. 

MACDOUGAL,  HARRY  O.,  Akron.     Ordn. 

McGiLL,  DON.  R.,  Nelsonville.     3o8th  Tr.  M.  Btry. 

MURRAY,  CHAS.  J.,  Elyria.     42d  Div. 

NICKLETT,  A.  F.,  Toledo.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

PERRY,  GEORGE  W.,  Youngstown.     ist  Army,  A.  E.  F. 


Roster  265 

PHILLIPS,  THOMAS  A.,  Dayton.     8i2th  Pio.  Inf. 

PRIDDY,  JOHN  E.,  Findlay.     F.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

RAMSEY,  ANDREW  M.,  Cincinnati.     26th  Div. 

SEGAL,  BEN  M.,  Cleveland.     I35th  F.  A. 

SONSLEY,  HARRY  J.,  Ada.    62d  F.  A. 

TURNER,  CYRIL  B.,  Columbus.     3o8th  T.  M.  Btry. 

WILSON,  CHALMERS,  R.,  Columbus.     H2th  Field  Sig.  Bn. 

OKLAHOMA 

ADKINS,  E.  S.,  Muskogee.     Hdq.  42d  Div. 

BERRY,  RALPH  H.,  Tulsa.     i;3d  Inf. 

BURLING,  WM.  T.,  Sapulpa.     I.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

BUTTS,  R.  B.,  Muskogee.     i62d  D.  B. 

CHASE,  VAL  D.,  Alva.    U.  S.  N. 

FISCHER,  F.  W.,  Oklahoma  City.     Q.  M.  C. 

Fox,  PHILIP  A.,  Tulsa.     23d  Engrs. 

GINGERICH,  H.  A.,  Okmulgee.     358th  Inf. 

HAUGHERTY,  HUGH,  Enid.     E.  J.  B.  T.  S. 

HAGAN,  HORACE  H.,  Tulsa.     C.  A.  C. 

HOFFMAN,  ROY,  Oklahoma  City.     93d  Div. 

KEENAN,  ROB.  B.,  Sapulpa.     3o8th  Aero  Squad. 

McNALLY,  EARL,  Okemah.     inth  Amm.  Train. 

MEYER,  HOWARD  W.,  U.  S.  S.  Bank  Bldg.,  U.  S.  Shipping  Bd. 

NILES,  ALVA  J.,  Tulsa.     7th  Div. 

NORWOOD,  FRANK  H.,  Prague.     Ft.  Riley. 

SAMS,  VERNETT  E.,  Wewoka.     49th  Inf. 

SHEA,  THOMAS  J.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.     56th  F.  A. 

TAYLOR,  MAX  A.,  Pryor.     33Oth  Inf. 

THOMPSON,  N.  A.,  in  E.  Latimer  St.,  Tulsa.     57th  Inf. 

TULLY,  B.  L.,  83d  F.  A. 

VIUER,  WM.,  Tulsa.     S.  O.  T.  S. 

OREGON 

CRITCHLOW,  HARRY,  Portland.     363d  Amb.  Co. 
EIVERS,  EDW.  J.,  Portland.     i62d  Inf. 
FOLLETT,  WILL.  B.,  Eugene.     69th  F.  A. 
GRANT,  RODERICK  D.,  Portland.     Air  Service. 
LEONARD,  BARGE  E.,  Portland.     63d  Inf. 
MAY,  JOHN  L.,  North  Portland.     i62d  Inf. 
MULLEN,  C.  L.,  Portland.     U.  S.  Marines. 
PARGON,  JOSEPH  A.,  Portland.     M.  C. 


266     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

PENNSYLVANIA 

AURAND,  AMMON  M.,  JR.,  Beaver  Springs.     Q.  M.  C. 

BEAMAN,  JOSEPH  W.,  Towanda.     i4Oth  Tank  Corps. 

BECKER,  H.  M.,  Pittsburgh.     (?) 

BIDDLE,  CHARLES  J.,  Philadelphia.     Air  Serv. 

BLANK,  HARRY  C.,  Allentown.     C.  O.  T.  S. 

BODIN,  F.  S.,  Wellsboro.     B.  E.  F. 

BUCK,  HOWARD,  Philadelphia.     96  Aero  Sq. 

BUETTNER,  C.  A.,  Johnstown.    Amb.  Co. 

COLLINS,  J.,  East  Pittsburgh.     371  Inf. 

DAVIS,  SHANLEY,  Pottsville.    Aviation. 

DEARLOVE,  CHAS.,  Philadelphia.     lOQth  Inf. 

DETRICH,  A.,  Philadelphia.     School  for  A.  R.  &  M.  O. 

DIXON,  F.  E.,  Elkins  Park.     31 8th  F.  A. 

DOBSON,  W.  F.,  284  N.  Main  St.,  Wilkes-Barre.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

D'OLIER,  FRANKLIN,  Philadelphia.     Q.  M.  C. 

DUNKLE,  RAY,  Dry  Runn.     4th  D.  B. 

DUNN,  STEWART,  Pittsburgh.     83d  F.  A. 

EGLOFF,  JOHN,  East  Pittsburgh.     8th  Trench  Mort.  Bat. 

FISCHER,  ANDREW,  Johnstown.     7th  Eng. 

FLOOD,  FRANK,  Pittsburgh.     Chem.  War.  Service. 

FORESTER,  I.  G.f  Philadelphia.     46th  Inf. 

FOSTER,  DAVID,  Carnegie.     3O5th  Field  Sig.  Bn. 

GEARY,  JOHN  W.,  Philadelphia.     M.  I.  D. 

GENTZEL,  PAUL,  Bellefonte.     3i4th  Inf. 

GREER,  JOHN,  New  York  City.     Nat.  Cath.  War  Council. 

HAUTH,  M.  L.,  Meadville.     29th  Eng. 

HECHT,  CARL  C.,  c/o  West  Branch  Knitting  Co.,  U.  S.  M.  C. 

HERBINE,  A.  F.,  Berwick.     31 4th  Inf. 

HILL,  FREDERICK,  Pittsburgh.     QOth  Inf. 

HOEGER,  ADELBERT,  1508  Sheffield  St.,  Pittsburgh.   2O9th  Eng. 

HOOPES,  E.  S.,  East  End  A.ve.,  Beaver.     Casual  Air  Service. 

HOSACK,  GEORGE,  1415  Park  Big.,  Pittsburgh,     mth  Inf. 

HOUCK,  BYRON,  Williamsport.     ist  Reg.  M.  T.  S. 

HUDOE,  M .  J . ,  Unionto wn.     3o6th  Tank  Corp. 

HULINGS,  NORMAN,  Oil  City.     22d  Aero  Sq. 

HUNSICKER,  STANLEY,  Collegeville.     Q.  M.  C. 

IVONY,  LEO,  East  Pittsburgh.     I.  C.  O.  T.  S. 

JOHNS,  ALEXANDER,  Monessen.     2d  Eng.  Tran.  Regiment. 

JOHNSON,  J.  E.,  West  Chester.     3Oist  Tank  Train. 

JOHNSON,  MILLER  A.,  Lewisburg.     i62d  Inf. 


Roster  267 

JONES,  WARREL,  Clearfield.     38th  Inf. 

KATZ,  EDWARD,  Honesdale.     M.  T.  C. 

KELLER,  OLIVER,  Lancaster.    Air  Service. 

KNOX,  ANDREW,  Philadelphia.     Med.  Corps. 

KRESALES,  KENNETH,  Easton.    U.  S.  A.  A.  S. 

KRUMBHAAR,  EDWARD,  Chestnut  Hill.     Base  Hos.  No.  10. 

LAMOND,  JAMES,  Philadelphia.    Avia.  A.  S.  A. 

LAUGHLIN,  ALEX.,  JR.,  Sewickley.     88th  Div. 

McCALL,  JOSEPH,  Merion.     3iith  F.  A. 

McRAE,  A.  K.,  Pittsburgh.     M.  T.  C.  T.  S. 

METZ,  BENJ.,  Pittsburgh.     I24th  Eng. 

MORGANROTH,  C.  K.,  Shamokin.     31 2th  Inf. 

MUENCH,  WILLIAM,  JR.,  Philadelphia.     6o6th  Eng. 

NEWCOMER,  ROBERT,  Pittsburgh.     76th  Div. 

NOFER,  GEO.,  621  Belgrade  St.     3d  Div.  Hdq. 

O'DONNEL,  JAMES,  Philadelphia.     31 5th  Inf. 

PEARSON,  ALFRED,  JR.,  Somerset.    6th  E.  T.  R. 

PENNEL,  EDRED  J.,  Norristown.     3O4th  Ammun.  Tr. 

PENNY,  Jos.  M.,  Philadelphia.     U.  S.  N. 

PHELPS,  L.  M.t  Erie.     H2th  Inf. 

PUTLK,  LAWHEND,  Clearfield.     Base  Hosp.     No.  4. 

REASA,  THOMAS,  Pottsville.     io3d  Eng. 

REHR,  THOMAS,  Pottsville.     iO3d  Eng.  Co.  C. 

REIFSENDER,  RUSSELL,  Pottstown.     i82d  Aero  Sq. 

RICK,  GEO.,  Reading.     302  Guard  and  Fire  Co. 

RIGBY,  HOWARD,  Pittsburgh.    O.  T.  C. 

SAMSEL,  HUGH,  Stroudsburg.     U.  S.  N. 

SAXE,  MICHAEL,  Philadelphia.     54th  Inf. 

SEMBOWER,  GUY,  Reading.     ii4th  Ord.  Co. 

SHOEFFER,  CLINTON,  Pottsville.     iO3d  Engv 

SIMONSON,  E.  G.,  Philadelphia.     490  Aero  Sq. 

SINGER,  ROBERT,  Stroudsburg.    logth  Inf. 

SMYTH,  WILLIAM,  Philadelphia.     Engrs.  Adj.  Gen.  Dept. 

SPANGEL,  LYELL,  Williamsport.    U.  S.  N. 

STEVENSON,  RICHARD,  Chester.     Handley  Page  Training  Dept. 

TYLER,  GEORGE,  Philadelphia.     3iith  F.  A. 

WALSH,  JOSEPH,  Pittsburgh.     4th  Eng. 

WEAR,  BYRON,  Hazleton.     i46th  Inf. 

PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS 
LANDON,  ROBERT  R.,  Manila,     i  ith  Corps  and  2d  Army. 


268     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

RHODE  ISLAND 

ANGELL,  CARL  H.,  Providence.    F.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 
CANT  WELL,  PERCEY,  Providence.     35ist  F.  A. 
ELEONISKEY,  JAMES,  Main  Crompton.     Sig.  Corps. 
JOHNSTON,  ALEXANDER,  Providence.     C.  A.  C. 
McKANNAH,  F.,  River  Pt.     Medical  Corps. 
SAN  SONEITR,  Jos.,  4  Claremont  Ave.,  iO3d  F.  A. 
SHARKEY,  WALTER,  Woonsocket.     isist  D.  B. 
SHUNNEY,  WM.  P.,  Woonsocket.     iO3d  F.  A. 
STURGES,  RUSH,  Providence.     Ord. 
THURBER,  FRED  B.,  c/o  Tilden  Thurber  Co.     U.  S.  N. 
WEEDER,  R.  B.,  Providence.     iO3d  F.  A. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 

FULTON,  ROBERT,  Florence.     iO5th  Supply  Tr. 
LACHICOTTE,  N.  S.,  Florence.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
REED,  CHARLES,  Charleston.     365th  Inf. 
SMYSER,  JOHN,  Florence.     Med.  Corps. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 

BUELL,  WILLIAM,  Rapid  City.     335th  Inf. 
DENNISON,  JOHN,  Vermillion.     C.  M.  G.  O.  T.  S. 
DOUD,  F.  R.,  Mobridge.     I3th  Eng. 
JOHNSON,  T.  R.,  Sioux  Falls.     io2d  F.  A. 
MALONEY,  PAUL,  Aberdeen.     i63d  F.  A. 
PFEIFFER,  JOSEPH,  Rapid  City.     Ord. 

TENNESSEE 

ANDERSON,  GLENN,  Nashville.     C.  A.  C. 
BERRY,  HARRY,  Hendersonville.     usth  F.  A. 
BOLLING,  W.  E.,  Nashville.     H4th  F.  A. 
BOWMAN,  CHAS.,  Nashville.     2d  Div. 
BROWN,  BARTON,  Nashville.     ii4th  F.  A. 
BUCKNER,  ED.,  Thompson's  Station.     H4th  F.  A. 
BUFORD,  NED,  Nashville.     Air  Ser. 
CASON,  WM.,  Nashville.     ii4th  F.  A. 
CORSON,  HERBERT,  Nashville.     U.  S.  N. 
GLEASON,  JAMES,  Knoxville.     ii4th  F.  A. 


Roster  269 


GRIFFEN,  EUGENE,  Nashville.     ii4th  F.  A. 
HAGER,  RICHARD,  Nashville,     iisth  F.  A. 
HANDLER,  WALTER  C.,  Memphis.     55th  F.  A.  Brig. 
HAYES,  JOHN,  Memphis.     H4th  F.  A. 
KLEINE,  KENNETH  E.,  Memphis.     Unassigned. 
LASON,  WILLIAM,  Nashville.     ii4th  F.  A. 
LEA,  LUKE,  Nashville.     H4th  F.  A. 
MERNT,  HENRY,  Jacksonville,     usth  F.  A. 
MILLIGAN,  G.  C.,  Chattanooga.     I56th  Dept.  Brig. 
MILLIKEN,  Chattanooga.    8ist  Div. 
NAIVE,  W.  W.,  Clarkville.     U.  S.  N. 
OXE,  HOWARD,  Nashville,     i  I4th  F.  A. 
PALMER,  ED.,  Nashville,     iiyth  F.  A. 
ROBERTSON,  JOHN,  Lebanon,     usth  F.  A. 
SHADOW,  W.  A.,  Winchester.    Air  Ser. 
SPENCE,  CAREY,  Knoxville.     iiyth  Inf. 
WARNING,  ROME,  Memphis.     33d  Div. 
WATSON,  LAWRENCE,  Columbia.     H4th  F.  A. 
WINFRY,  DOUGLAS,  Memphis. 

TEXAS 

ALLEN,  ARCH  C.,  Dallas.     i32d  F.  A. 
BACON,  BENJAMIN,  Wichita  Falls.     36oth  Inf. 
BEAGLEY,  JOHN,  La  Porte.     Inf. 
BEAVENS,  C.,  Houston.     357th  Inf. 
BIRKHEAD,  CLAUDE,  San  Antonio.     i3ist  F.  A. 
BOON,  S.  P.,  Brady,     nth  Sup.  Train. 
BRADLEY,  ROLLAND,  Houston.     i32d  F.  A. 
CARREL,  ALFRED,  Austin.     Air  Ser. 
COHN,  E.  M.,  Dallas.     U.  S.  M.  C. 
FOY,  HUGH,  Dallas.     Army  Tran.  Service. 
GAINES,  J.  P.,  Bay  City.     26th  Inf. 
GRUBBS,  ROSCOE,  Paris.     5th  M.  G.  Bn. 
HOOVER,  JOHN,  Houston.     i43d  Inf. 
JACKSON,  W.  E.,  Hillboro.     Hist  Inf. 
JOHNSON,  W.  W.,  Galveston.     U.  S.  N. 
KING,  JOHN  L.»  Ft.  Worth.     1 1  ith  Am.  Train. 
LANGDON,  RUSSELL,  Houston.    U.  S.  N. 
LINDSLEY,  HENRY,  Dallas.     Gen.  Staff. 
NICHOLSON,  LE  ROY,  Ballinger.    U.  S.  N. 
SMITH,  C.,  Galveston.     Inf. 


270     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

TIPS,  CHAS.,  Three  Rivers.     QOth  Div.  Inf. 
VAMESON,  Rou  A.,  Marlin.     i43d  Inf. 
YOUNG,  JOHN,  Austin.     C.  A.  C. 

UTAH 

DOUGLAS,  ROYAL,  Ogden.     8ist  Inf. 
JURGENSEN,  FRED,  Salt  Lake  City.     Gen.  Staff. 
KUNDSON,  J.  C.,  Brigham  City.     326th  Inf. 
MCCARTY,  RAY,  Salt  Lake  City.     U.  S.  N. 
MEEHAN,  LEO,  Salt  Lake  City.     U.  S.  N.  F.  C. 
PARSONS,  C.,  Salt  Lake  City.     Sant.  Corps. 
RHIVERS,  DONALD,  Ogden.     i8th  Eng. 
ROBERTSON,  BALDWIN,  Salt  Lake  City.     362d  Inf. 
SEELY,  L.  J.,  Mt.  Pleasant.     8i4th  Aero  Sq. 
SMOOT,  H.  R.,  Salt  Lake  City.     P.  S.  &  T. 
WOOLEY,  JAS.,  Salt  Lake  City.     U.  S.  M.  C. 

VERMONT 

FOUNTAIN,  JOSEPH  HARRY,  Burlington.     loist  Am.  Tr. 
NASON,  LEONARD,  Norwich  University.     76th  F.  A. 
VARNUM,  GUY,  Barre.    Ordnance. 

VIRGINIA 

COCKE,  FRANCIS,  Roanoke.     21 7th  Aero  Sq. 
ISAID,  JAMES,  Roanoke.     i  i7th  T.  H.  &  M.  P. 
NEI,  D.  D.,  Norfolk.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
PALLARD,  C.,  Richmond.     3Oth  Eng. 
POOL,  GEORGE,  Norfolk,     nith  F.  A. 
STUART,  WM.  A.,  Big  Stone  Gap.     44th  Art.  Brig. 
THOMPSON,  JOHN,  Petersburg.    248th  Aero  Sq. 
TROTTER,  WM.,  Petersburg.    U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
WALLACE,  R.  R.,  Hampton,     nith  F.  A. 
WICKER,  JOHN,  Richmond.     499th  Aero  Sq. 

WASHINGTON 

FEIN,  FRED,  1131  Pleasant  St.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
GORDON,  R.  S.,  Spokane.     54th  F.  A. 
JOHNSON,  ALBERT,  Aberdeen.     M.  S. 


Roster  271 

MCDONALD,  C.  B.     Camp  Lewis,  Signal  Corps. 
Moss,  HARVEY,  Seattle.     I.  G.  D. 
REDINGER,  FRED,  Aberdeen.    U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
SAPP,  C.  S.,  Seattle.    Ord. 
SHAW,  FREDERICK,  Tacoma.     C.  A.  C. 
SIMENTON,  Russ,  Seattle.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 
SULLIVAN,  JOHN,  Seattle.    M.  I.  B. 
THOMPSON,  L.  L.,  Olympia.     U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

WEST  VIRGINIA 

ALDERSON,  FLEMING,  Charleston.     A.  G.  O. 

ARNOLD,  JACKSON,  Weston.     i5Oth  Inf. 

BOND,  JOHN,  317  Michigan  Ave.     Gen.  Staff  38th  Div. 

CROCKETT,  JOSEPH,  Welch.    31 5th  F.  A. 

DAVIS,  RICHARD,  Morgantown.     A.  S.  A. 

FERGUSON,  G.  E.,  Charleston.     365th  Inf. 

GODFREY,  M.  V.,  Charleston.     Med.  Corps. 

JACKSON,  JOSEPH,  Charleston.     365th  Inf. 

JONES,  CLARENCE,  Hinton.     8th  Inf. 

McCAMic,  CHARLES,  Wheeling.     Ordn. 

REASS,  Jos.  H.,  Wheeling.     Q.  M.  C. 

SHAW,  HOUSTON  GEO.,  Wheeling.    R.  I.  C. 

SIMMONS,  W.  J.,  Hinton.     4Oth  Inf. 

SOLINS,  SAMUEL,  Welch.     M.  C. 

WISCONSIN 

ACKLEY,  JAMES,  417  Marston  Ave.,  i68th  Inf. 
BELLIS,  NEWMAN,  Wausau.     i8th  Inf. 
CHYBOWSKI,  M.  A.,  Milwaukee.    M.  O.  T.  C. 
CLARKE,  ROBERT  H.,  La  Crosse.    Development  Bn. 
CLOW,  WM.  K.,  Milwaukee.     U.  S.  N. 
CROSBY,  H.  S.,  Rhinelander. 

CUNNINGHAM,  ROB.,  Janesville.     Chemical  Warfare. 
DAVIS,  JOHN,  Milwaukee.    Train.  Cp. 
DIETERIEN,  W.  H.,  Milwaukee.     i2Oth  F.  A. 
DUTSCHER,  GEO.,  Milwaukee.     F.  A.  C.  O.  T.  S. 
FERRIS,  JOHN,  Milwaukee.     Gen.  Staff. 
FOSTER,  CARLTON,  Oshkosh.     2oth  Eng. 
LACHENMAIER,  FRED,  312  Caswel  Blk.,  looth  Div. 
LEE,  WILBUR,  Oconto.     i27th  Inf. 


272     The  Story  of  the  American  Legion 

LYSTUD,  ANDY,  N.  Hudson.     33Oth  Mach.  Gun. 

MERKEL,  GEO.,  Appleton.     i27th  Inf. 

OWENS,  ELMER,  Milwaukee.    I2ist  F.  A. 

PFEIL,  JAMES,  Milwaukee.    340 th  Inf. 

FRANCE,  HERBERT,  Baraboo.     I28th  Inf. 

SALSMAN,  JOHN,  Madison.     32d  Div. 

SMITH,  B.  L.,  Neenah.     i8th  Inf. 

STRAMPE,  GEORGE,  Janesville. 

SZULTEK,  JOHN,  Milwaukee.     i2ist  F.  A. 

WITTERSTAFFER,  WALTER,  Milwaukee.    34Oth  Inf. 

WOOD  WORTH,  LEIGH,  Janesville. 

WYOMING 

DINNEEN,  M.  A.,  Cheyenne.     n6th  Amm.  Tr. 
GREGG,  BEN,  Worland.    49th  Reg. 
JUNE,  C.  M.,  Cheyenne.     I3th  Div. 
MCCARTHY,  D.  C.  M.    Casper.     U.  S.  N. 
MILLER,  L.  A.,  Cheyenne.    U.  S.  M.  C. 
POWERS,  RALPH,  Tarrington.     4Oth  Inf. 
SHORTELL,  WILLIAM,  Buffalo.     n6th  Am.  Tr. 
SWENSON,  NELSY,  Douglas,     ist  Inf. 

WORLD'S  WAR  VETERANS 

C.  P.  DIMMITT  THOMAS  H.  DEMPSEY 

G.  H.  W.  RAUSCHKOLB  R.  A.  THOMPSON 

GEO.  E.  DAVID  F.  H.  REIN 

JOHN  S.  SEIBERT  CHARLES  S.  WATKINS 

SOLDIERS'  AND  SAILORS'  COUNCIL 

S.    M.    CURTIN 

AMERICAN  ARMY  ASSOCIATION 

H.W.HILLYER, i2i5Nat.Bank,  JOSEPH  P.  McGLiNN 

Conwell  Bldg.,  St.  Louis,  Co.  J.  A.    BERNARD,    706    Pearce 

B,  49  Mo.  G.  B.  Bldg.,   St.  Louis.     45   U.   S. 

Louis  R.  FLORIN  Inf. 

T.  R.  SMITH,  2848  Lyon  St.,  St.  SCOTT  W.  LUCAS 
Louis,      nth  Co.  A.,  S.  D., 
Garden  City 


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